A judge’s television crime drama-inspired jury instruction that prosecutors need not present forensic evidence to prove guilt was a harmful error, Maryland’s top court ruled Friday in overturning a man’s robbery and assault conviction and 30-year prison sentence. In its ...

Tagged with: CSI forensic evidence harmless error Jury instructions

Maryland’s top court Thursday opens the public sessions of its 2020-2021 term, during which it will consider the constitutionality of Baltimore’s tax on billboard operators, whether a judge properly admitted into evidence the violent rap lyrics of an accused killer ...

Tagged with: billboards CSI first amendment free speech Jury instructions Mary Ellen Barbera rap lyrics tax law