MARYLAND COURT OF APPEALS Constitutional Law, Right to counsel in post-conviction proceedings: Criminal defendant had no right to counsel in post-conviction collateral proceedings, and therefore circuit court did not abuse its discretion in allowing defendant to discharge counsel and continue pro se. Grandison v. State, No. 117, Sept. Term, 2010. RecordFax No. 12-0222-20, 48 pages. [...]
RECENT MARYLAND DECISIONS
MARYLAND COURT OF APPEALS Criminal Law, Firearms: A “firearm” does not have to be operable in order to sustain a conviction under §5-133(c), which prohibits a person convicted of a crime of violence or other specified offenses from possessing a regulated firearm. Moore v. State, No. 20, September Term, 2010. RecordFax No. 11-1222-20, 54 pages. [...]
When you can sue – The “Statute of Limitations”
A statute of limitations is a law which places a time limit on when a person is able to sue someone for wrongful conduct. Once this amount of time has passed, unless a legal exception applies, you lose the right to file a lawsuit. So How Long Is The Period? There are in fact many [...]
A Lawyer’s “Ethical Juggle”
Many people are not aware of the numerous rules by which a Maryland attorney must abide as an admitted member of the State Bar. The requirement to be an officer of the court, a public servant, and a zealous advocate for your client can lead to some tricky situations. The decisions an attorney makes not only can affect the outcome of a specific case but also the future of his or her legal career. The Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) provide guidance to attorneys in Maryland, however, it is not possible to develop rules for every situation a lawyer may encounter. Therefore, lawyers must use their experience, their colleagues, and their common sense to make the best decision.
Prompt Meeting With Your Attorney After Being Charged Is Paramount
Meeting with your Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer as soon after a criminal charge has many benefits. Recollection: The longer the time between the events that led to your arrest and the first meeting with your attorney, the greater is the likelihood that you will have forgotten important details. Further, waiting to see your attorney until a [...]
