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public defenders

Maryland Federal Public Defender Jim Wyda stands outside U.S. District Court in Baltimore on May 21, 2026. (Ian Round/The Daily Record)
Jun 5, 2026

MD federal public defender set to retire: ‘I’ve loved it’

Jim Wyda intends to retire in November, after nearly three decades leading Maryland’s federal public defender’s office.

The Edward A. Garmatz United States District Courthouse in Baltimore is shown in October 2024. (Ian Round/The Daily Record)
Oct 22, 2025

Courts run out of money amid shutdown, but business continues mostly as usual

The U.S. judiciary ran out of money for its employees amid the government shutdown, but business is continuing in Maryland’s federal courts.

gavel
Mar 13, 2023

Longest-serving death-row inmate wins new trial

Today is Monday, the 171st anniversary of the illustration of Uncle Sam. Here are some other news items. — World’s longest-serving death-row inmate wins new trial. — Georgia needs more […]

Maryland Public Defender OPD 330
Dec 14, 2022

Maryland public defenders vote to join state workers’ union

Maryland public defenders voted Tuesday to unionize after a two-year effort.

Assistant Ramsey County Public Defender Cara Gilbert discusses, during an interview Wednesday in her office in St. Paul, Minnesota, how she and other public defenders across Minnesota are ready to go on strike as early as Tuesday in a dispute over pay and workloads. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)
Mar 18, 2022

Minnesota public defenders may strike over workloads and pay

Public defenders are poised to go on strike as early as Tuesday across Minnesota.

Feb 23, 2015

Frosh, PD defend budgets to Senate panel

Maryland’s chief public defender and the attorney general urged the General Assembly on Monday to hold the line on their proposed budgets for fiscal 2016, saying financial constraints already prevent them from filling vacancies.

ShellenbergerScott4es_web
Apr 1, 2013

Legislation aims to better protect prosecutors and public defenders

While the killing of a Texas district attorney and his wife over the weekend may have highlighted safety concerns at Maryland state’s attorney’s offices, legislation creating more protections for rank-and-file prosecutors and public defenders is already working its way through the General Assembly.

Jun 17, 2012

Court adopts rule on lawyers at bail review

ANNAPOLIS – Maryland‘s top court has adopted a procedural rule for providing public defenders to indigent defendants at bail review hearings. The Court of Appeals‘ rule, which took effect last […]

Apr 19, 2012

Public defenders try to stop Del. execution

DOVER, Del. — Federal public defenders trying to halt the execution of convicted Delaware killer Shannon Johnson claimed in court papers Thursday that there is overwhelming evidence that he is […]

Feb 28, 2012

Bill to change public defender law advances

ANNAPOLIS — Measures advanced in both legislative chambers Tuesday that would repeal a Maryland law requiring that poor defendants have a public defender present when district court commissioners are setting […]

Aug 10, 2011

Raise your right paw …

Anyone who knows me is very aware of the close bonds (aka “obsession”) I have with my two dogs, Dexter and Luca. When I first meet someone, it is virtually […]