In re: Frederick Cnty. Data Center Referendum

• Court: Court of Appeals of Maryland
• Decided: June 30, 2026
• Docket: 67pc/25
• Status: Published

Opinion

Circuit Court for Frederick County Case No. C-10-CV-26-000309 Case No. C-10-CV-26-000321 IN THE SUPREME COURT Case No. C-10-CV-26-000325 Case No. C-10-CV-26-000326 Case No. C-10-CV-26-000327 OF MARYLAND Argued: June 30, 2026 No. 67

September Term, 2025

IN THE MATTER OF FREDERICK COUNTY DATA CENTER REFERENDUM COMMITTEE

Fader, C.J., Booth, Eaves, Killough, Harrell, Glenn T. (Senior Justice, Specially Assigned), Raker, Irma S. (Senior Justice, Specially Assigned), Getty, Joseph M., (Senior Justice, Specially Assigned),

JJ.

PER CURIAM ORDER

Filed: June 30, 2026 Pursuant to the Maryland Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act (§§ 10-1601 et seq. of the State Government Article) this document is authentic. *Watts, Biran, and Gould, JJ., did not participate 2026.06.30 in this matter 13:01:57 -04'00' Gregory Hilton, Clerk * IN THE * SUPREME COURT IN THE MATTER OF FREDERICK * COUNTY DATA CENTER OF MARYLAND REDERENDUM COMMITTEE * No. 67 * September Term, 2025 *

Appellant, the Frederick County Data Center Referendum Committee, challenges

the judgment of the Circuit Court for Frederick County entered on June 21, 2026, which

granted the petitions filed in these consolidated cases by Appellees, Quantum Maryland,

LLC, Joan Aquilino, Theodore H. Butz, Justin Cassity, Frederick Data Owner, LLC, NDR

Properties, LLC, David S. Pleasants, Rowan Frederick LLC, Rowan Frederick II LLC,

Rowan Frederick III LLC, and Windridge Properties L.C. The circuit court’s order

(1) reversed “the decision of the Election Director of the Frederick County Board of

Elections to certify for referendum Frederick County Council Ordinance 26-01-001;”

(2) declared that, “pursuant to the Charter of Frederick County, Ordinance 26-01-001

passed by the County Council of Frederick County is not a subject matter about which a

referendum may be pursued;” and (3) declared “that the Frederick County Data Center

Referendum Committee’s referendum petition is deficient pursuant to MD Code, Election

Law § 6-206(c)(6) because it fails to provide a ‘full and accurate text of the law’ as required

by Frederick County Charter, Article 3, § 308(b)[.]” For reasons to be set forth in an

opinion to be filed later, it is this 30th day of June 2026, by the Supreme Court of Maryland, ORDERED that the judgment of the Circuit Court for Frederick County is affirmed;

and it is further

ORDERED that costs are to be paid by the appellant. The mandate shall issue

forthwith.

/s/ Matthew J. Fader Chief Justice