A Maryland Request for Special Appearance by the USA or APD (Assistant United States Attorney or Armed Forces Panel Defense Attorney) is a legal document that allows an attorney to appear before a court in Maryland on behalf of a client without needing to be admitted to the bar of the state. The request is typically filed by a private attorney or government agency in order to represent a client in a specific legal matter. This type of request is most often used in federal cases, but may also be utilized in state cases. There are two types of Maryland Request for Special Appearance by the USA or APD: Limited and Pro HAC Vice. A Limited Special Appearance is a temporary appearance that is limited to a single hearing or trial. This type of request does not require the attorney to enter an appearance as counsel of record and does not require the attorney to become an active member of the bar of the state. A Pro HAC Vice Special Appearance is a more permanent form of special appearance that allows the attorney to enter an appearance as counsel of record in a particular case or matter and requires the attorney to become an active member of the bar of the state.