Paul B. DeWolfe, whose name will be forever linked to the right of Maryland defendants to have counsel at initial bail hearings, will step down on June 30 after more than 12 years as the state’s chief public defender. DeWolfe, ...

Tagged with: bail reform death penalty DeWolfe v. Richmond paul b. dewolfe

In 2013, when Maryland’s highest court recognized people’s constitutional right to have an attorney present at their initial court appearance, officials had to make that right a reality – and find a way to pay for it. They were frantic. ...

Tagged with: Appointed Attorney Program Brian E. Frosh DeWolfe v. Richmond district court chief judge john p. morrissey paul b. dewolfe

Maryland’s chief public defender called on Maryland legislators Wednesday to transfer to district court commissioners the responsibility for determining if a criminal defendant qualifies for state-sponsored counsel.

Tagged with: DeWolfe v. Richmond indigency determination John Morrissey Paul DeWolfe Right to counsel

District Court commissioners in as many as seven Maryland jurisdictions could have their initial bail decisions reviewed by a computer program for about two weeks this fall as part of a study to determine the feasibility of a software-based risk-assessment tool.

Tagged with: DeWolfe v. Richmond Martin O'Malley

Language justifying an expansion of the state Office of Public Defender's Towson office lease was based on a previous staffing expansion.

Tagged with: Department of General Services DeWolfe v. Richmond Maryland Office of the Public Defender

Maryland's Office of the Public Defender handles more than 200,000 cases a year, but it's cases the agency doesn't handle that are being used to justify expanding its Towson office.

Tagged with: DeWolfe v. Richmond maryland board of public works Towson

Maryland's 24 local jurisdictions should plan to cover at least some costs of providing attorneys at initial bail hearings over the next two years.

Tagged with: DeWolfe v. Richmond

A substantial number of people arrested in Maryland have waived their right to an attorney at bail hearings over the last month, according to some court observers.

Tagged with: angela alsobrooks bail hearing DeWolfe v. Richmond maryland court of appeals

An attorney for indigent people said Maryland’s top court should immediately implement its landmark decision that they have a right to counsel at initial bail hearings, while a lawyer for the state urged a delay at least until the start of the fiscal year on July1.

Tagged with: DeWolfe v. Richmond General Assembly lawyers-at-bail maryland court of appeals public defender University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Venable

Indigent convicts have no statutory right to counsel for post-conviction petitions seeking DNA evidence, Maryland’s top court ruled unanimously Tuesday.

Tagged with: DeWolfe v. Richmond dna evidence