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Defense counsel assails bill requiring alleged violent criminals’ detention
A Republican-backed bill to prevent judges from releasing before trial certain defendants charged with a violent crime drew criticism from defense attorneys.
Appeals court rebuffs liquor stores’ challenge to Baltimore zoning law
Maryland’s second-highest court rebuffed a challenge from more than 30 Baltimore liquor store owners who were forced to phase out their operations in residential neighborhoods.
Feds pledge to use $3.5M in state funding for new violence reduction initiatives
Federal law enforcement officials will use $3.5 million in state money to fund a set of new initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime.
Baltimore bars lose constitutional challenge to limited hours of operation
A Maryland statute requiring bars in a predominantly Black area of Baltimore to open later and close earlier than most others in the city is not unconstitutional, the state’s second-highest court ruled.
Scott fires back at Hogan over crime policy criticism
Mayor Brandon Scott says the governor is playing "publicity games" instead of helping Baltimore solve the problem of violent crime.
Legislature rebuffs Hogan’s ‘judicial transparency,’ rejects listing judges’ names
The Maryland General Assembly ended its 2022 session Monday having spared circuit court judges of having a state commission compile by name the sentences each has rendered for violent criminals, a gubernatorial proposal the jurists said would have threatened judicial independence by subjecting judges to intense public scrutiny. Gov. Larry Hogan sought the by-name listing, […]
Md. Senate passes ‘watered down’ judicial transparency bill
The Democratic-led Maryland Senate passed legislation this month calling on a state commission to compile and post circuit court sentencing data on a largely county-by county-basis, rebuffing Gov. Larry Hogan’s proposal that the posted information provide by name the sentence each Maryland judge rendered for violent criminals. Following the Senate’s 46-0 vote, attention now has […]
Hogan, Judiciary battle over ‘judicial transparency’ in sentencing
Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration squared off Thursday against the Maryland Judiciary and a law school dean over the governor’s call for legislation requiring a state commission to compile by name the sentences each Maryland circuit court judge renders for violent criminals. A Hogan aide told the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee that such a by-name listing […]
Federal judge OKs police use of aerial surveillance in Baltimore
A federal judge on Friday gave the Baltimore Police Department an all-clear to begin using aerial surveillance to fight crime in the city, rejecting arguments that the overflights would violate Baltimoreans’ constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and their right to peacefully associate. In a memorandum opinion, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett said the BPD’s […]
General Assembly sends anti-crime bills to Hogan
The Maryland General Assembly passed legislation this session aimed at preventing and stiffening penalties for repeated gun offenders.
Law professors call omnibus crime bill unconstitutional
Fifteen local law professors have given opponents of an omnibus anti-crime bill a constitutional argument against the legislation.
Committee to discuss Baltimore violence with Hogan’s ‘truth-in-sentencing’ proposal on many minds
As record violence continues in Baltimore city, members of a Maryland Senate committee on Tuesday will address possible solutions ahead of the next year’s legislative session, including Gov. Larry Hogan’s suggestion of “truth-in-sentencing” legislation to keep violent offenders from avoiding serious jail time. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing will allow Baltimore officials[...]
