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

Maryland District Court Chief Judge John P. Morrissey has told his fellow jurists and court staff not to wear any apparel that displays the “blue line” of support for law enforcement while they are on duty or on court property, ...

Tagged with: Black Lives Matter Blue Lives Matter John P. Morrissey judicial impartiality Maryland District Court paul b. dewolfe

Current and former prosecutors, police and youth justice agents from outside Maryland came out this week in support of the state public defender’s call for judges to release all detained and incarcerated juveniles who do not pose an immediate threat ...

Tagged with: COVID-19 juvenile justice maryland courts covid-19 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 top court will soon consider a rule designed to prevent judicial officers from imposing bail on criminal defendants beyond their financial means.

Tagged with: Attorney General Brian E. Frosh bail reform joseph vallario paul b. dewolfe Scott D. Shellenberger

Maryland’s bail-bond system could be replaced by a three-tiered pretrial risk assessment program under a set of recommendations made Thursday by a task force appointed to look at ways to reform the bail review system.

Tagged with: bail bonds crime paul b. dewolfe Police/Law Enforcement/Corrections

The Senate has passed controversial legislation that would require the public defender’s office to have a second person review a defendant’s application for free legal assistance once they have posted bond or were released on their own recognizance.

Tagged with: General Assembly Law legislation maryland paul b. dewolfe public defender Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee

The Supreme Court is hearing a high-profile test case of Maryland’s DNA collection law next week, but neither Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler nor Public Defender Paul B. DeWolfe will be arguing it.

Tagged with: Alonzo Jay King Jr. dna doug gansler hagerstown john roberts Law legal news maryland court of appeals paul b. dewolfe Supreme Court U.S. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

U.S. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. strongly indicated Monday that the Supreme Court wants to review a Maryland high court decision generally barring police from collecting DNA samples from people arrested for committing or attempting to commit a violent crime.

Tagged with: doug gansler maryland court of appeals opinion paul b. dewolfe stay Supreme Court U.S. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.