The Maryland Office of the Public Defender called for the release of inmates who do not pose a safety risk or who are nearing the end of their sentences to reduce the overall prison population during the coronavirus pandemic. Maryland courts ...

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ANNAPOLIS – Maryland’s local lead prosecutors and the state’s chief public defender voiced strong support Tuesday for a six-month old rule designed to prevent judicial officers from imposing bail on defendants beyond their financial means, with the prosecution praising an ...

Tagged with: bail reform maryland judiciary public defender state's attorneys

A federal judge Thursday signed an order appointing a public defender for Maryland state Sen. Nathaniel T. Oaks, who had been represented by private counsel since his he was charged with wire fraud in April.

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The “prohibitively high” caseloads of Maryland’s public defenders could be reduced if lawmakers decriminalize minor offenses, the state’s public defender says.

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The Maryland Office of the Public Defender squared off Thursday against the state judiciary over legislation that would transfer the responsibility for determining if a criminal defendant qualifies for state-sponsored counsel from the OPD and give it to district court commissioners.

Tagged with: public defender Right to counsel

An overworked public defender leads news summary that includes proposing gun control, defining "natural" and whether exchanging emails equals a meeting.

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It took the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office 30 seconds in court recently to dismiss my client’s murder case after he spent nearly a year in jail for no good reason. The case against my client, “Mr. Y,” hinged on ...

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Circuit court judges must appoint counsel for indigent criminal defendants who fire, with the judges’ approval, not only their public defender but the Office of Public Defender and still want an attorney, Maryland’s top court has unanimously ruled.

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A Baltimore judge will decide Monday morning whether the city must release from custody people who were arrested during last week’s riots and held more than 24 hours before seeing a district court commissioner.

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The Maryland Office of the Public Defender will challenge in court the lawfulness of Baltimore’s detention of more than 230 individuals arrested during the city’s riots.

Tagged with: Baltimore riots public defender