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Comment: Solving The Depraved Heart Murder Problem In Maryland: A Suggestion For Successful Prosecution Of Police Officers, Rachele Norfolk

University of Baltimore Law Review

Currently, there is no statutory framework for depraved heart murder in Maryland. Additionally, there is a problem with prosecuting this specific kind of murder because Maryland’s common law provides very vague and somewhat flimsy guidance. While prosecuting police officers may prove to be a challenging feat itself, it may be even harder when an officer fails to follow certain procedures or act in certain ways through “acts of omission.”

This Comment will proceed in four parts following this introduction. Part II will provide background information on the Freddie Gray case and the common law in Maryland on depraved

heart murder …

Recent Development: Colvin V. State: Not Polling The Jury Foreperson Individually After Announcing The Jury's Verdict Is A Procedural Error, Which Does Not Rise To The Level Of A Cognizable Claim Under Maryland Rule 4-345(A), Kayla M. Dinuccio

University of Baltimore Law Forum

The Court of Appeals of Maryland held that a motion to correct an illegal sentence can only be granted if the error is based on substantive law. Colvin v. State, 450 Md. 718, 728, 150 A.3d 850, 856 (2016). Not polling the jury foreperson after she announced the jury's verdicts was a procedural error, and thus not one of the limited exceptions to correct an illegal sentence under Maryland Rule 4-345(a). Id. at 726-27, 150 A.3d at 855-56. In 1989, Roderick Colvin ("Colvin") was tried before a jury in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City on numerous charges, including murder …

Returning Citizens: How Shifting Law And Policy In Maryland Will Help Citizens Who Return From Incarceration, Khyla D. Craine, Esq., Glenn E. Martin

University of Baltimore Law Forum

In America, the concept of “time served” is a misnomer, as the shackles of a lifetime of collateral consequences make a criminal record a scathing obstacle for over 100 million Americans. Each year, more than 650,000 people are expected to reintegrate into our communities, often with substance abuse and mental health issues, minimal education, no job to sustain a life, and no stable home awaiting them.

While these numbers are staggering on their own, they do not reflect the even larger number of people who cycle through the court system and jails. For example, some take pleas for a lesser …

Recent Development: In Re Tyrell A.: Trial Courts Generally May Not Order Restitution To An Individual Whose Voluntary Participation In A Crime Or Delinquent Act Results In Injury, Andrew Middleman

University of Baltimore Law Forum

The Court of Appeals of Maryland held that Sections 11-601(j) and 11- 603(a) of the Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure Article, do not authorize trial courts to order restitution to an individual who suffers an injury while voluntarily participating in a crime or delinquent act, “absent exceptional circumstances.” In re Tyrell A., 442 Md. 354, 383, 112 A.3d 468, 485 (2015). Accordingly, the court of appeals vacated a juvenile court’s restitution order to an individual who suffered nasal injuries while participating in the common law offense of affray.

Recent Development: Antonio V. Ssa Sec., Inc.: Upon Exhausting All Other Tools Of Statutory Interpretation, Policy Considerations Revealed That The Maryland Legislature Did Not Intend To Abrogate The Common Law Doctrine Of Respondeat Superior Through The Enactment Of § 19-501 Of The Maryland Security Guards Act, David Bronfein

University of Baltimore Law Forum

The Court of Appeals of Maryland held that the Maryland Security Guards Act, Section 19-501 of the Maryland Code, Business Occupations and Professions Article (“section 19-501”) does not expand a security guard agency’s liability for unauthorized employee conduct; rather, the statute remains consistent with the liability prescribed by Maryland’s common law doctrine of respondeat superior. Antonio v. SSA Sec., Inc., 442 Md. 67, 90, 110 A.3d 654, 667 (2015). Finding the plain language, context, and legislative history of the statute to be ambiguous and unconvincing, the court was ultimately persuaded by policy considerations behind upholding the common law doctrine of …

Recent Development: In Re Victoria C.: Children Are Third Parties For Purposes Of Child Visitation; Siblings Must Make A Prima Facie Case Of Parental Unfitness Or Exceptional Circumstances Before Applying The Best Interest Of Child Standard, Allyson Bloom

University of Baltimore Law Forum

The Court of Appeals of Maryland held that a child is considered a third party for purposes of sibling visitation rights. In re Victoria C., 437 Md. 567, 591, 88 A.3d 749, 764(2014). The court further held that the sibling seeking visitation with a minor sibling must first make a prima facie case showing parental unfitness or exceptional circumstances before the court can apply the best interest of the child standard.

Maryland Personal Jurisdiction Law In The Cyberspace Content, Saad Gul

University of Baltimore Law Forum

A century ago, personal jurisdiction largely hinged on a simple litmus test: the defendant’s presence in the forum state. The issue of personal jurisdiction gained prevalence as the nation evolved from its earlier days of detached, semi-sovereign entities, whose citizens rarely interacted, to a nation where interstate commerce had increased, with interstate litigation growing correspondingly. In Pennoyer v. Neff, the Supreme Court of the United States effectively limited a state’s jurisdiction to persons physically present within its territorial borders. However, in today’s increasingly interconnected world, physical presence appears to represent an anachronism set in the post-Civil War, horse-and-buggy America of …

A Reasonable Expectation Of Privacy Online: "Do Not Track" Legislation, Alicia Shelton

University of Baltimore Law Forum

This year marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the World Wide Web (“Web”), and more than 81% of Americans are now using the internet on a regular basis. Yet, despite the fact that key pieces of personally identifying information—name, address, phone number, email address, and birthday—and sensitive personal data—political opinions, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, and health—can be learned through tracking an individual’s online activity, there continues to be a void of federal legislation protecting the privacy of internet users. In the absence of federal action, state legislatures are tasked with regulating electronic surveillance by both private companies and the …

Recent Development: Barnes V. State: A Suspect's Detention Did Not Evolve Into De Facto Arrest When The Execution Of A Warrant Was Delayed For Three Hours; Police May Detain A Suspect After The Warrant Execution If They Reasonably Suspect Criminal Activity, Harrison Bliss

University of Baltimore Law Forum

The Court of Appeals of Maryland held that a three-hour delay in the execution of a warrant was reasonable and did not constitute de facto arrest. Barnes v. State, 437 Md. 375, 394, 86 A.3d 1246, 1257 (2014). The court of appeals also held that a short investigatory detention, following the execution of the warrant, did not suggest de facto arrest, and therefore did not require probable cause. Id. at 397, 86 A.3d at 1259. Finally, the court held that the evidence collected from the search of an individual’s storage unit was lawfully obtained because the officers had the requisite …

Charm City Televised & Dehumanized: How Cctv Bail Reviews Violate Due Process, Edie Fortuna Cimino, Zina Makar, Natalie Novak

University of Baltimore Law Forum

On May 28, 2013, Torrey Johnson5 struggles to raise both his hands, handcuffed and seated shoulder-to-shoulder between two other defendants in the first row of the closed circuit television (“CCTV” or “videoconference”) bail review hearing room within the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center (“Centeral Booking”). There are two more rows of defendants behind Mr. Johnson, all in yellow jumpsuits, being watched by correctional officers. Separated by a three-foot wall, Mr. Johnson’s public defender sits out of sight from the video camera’s field of view, about ten feet away from her client. The judge quickly reads through Mr. Johnson’s rights. …

Recent Development: Blackburn Ltd. P'Ship V. Paul: If A Trespasser Is A Member Of A Specific Class Protected By An Ordinance Or Statute, Property Owners Owe A Duty Of Care Despite Common Law Rule That No Such Duty Is Owed, Ame P. Roberts

University of Baltimore Law Forum

The Court of Appeals of Maryland held that the Statute or Ordinance Rule might apply, regardless of the common law duty to trespassers. Blackburn Ltd. P’ship v. Paul, 438 Md. 100, 112, 90 A.3d 464, 471 (2014) (citing Brooks v. Lewin Realty III, Inc., 378 Md. 70, 78, 835 A.2d 616, 620-21 (2003)). The court further concluded that Christopher Paul was a member of the class intended to be protected by statute, and suffered those injuries that the statute sought to prevent. Id. at 126, 90 A.3d at 479. Finally, the court held that a genuine issue of material fact …

Recent Development: Motor Vehicle Admin. V. Deering: A Driver Whose License Is Suspended Under The "Implied Consent, Administrative Per Se Law" Is Not Entitled To Consult With An Attorney Before Deciding Whether To Take A Breath Test, Patrick Toohey

University of Baltimore Law Forum

The Court of Appeals of Maryland held the implied consent, administrative per se law (“administrative per se law”) does not require that a suspected drunk driver be given the opportunity to consult an attorney before deciding whether to take a breath test. Motor Vehicle Admin. v. Deering, 438 Md. 611, 637, 92 A.3d 495, 511 (2014). The court found that the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution does not establish a pre-test right to counsel for a suspected drunk driver in an administrative proceeding.

Recent Development: Springer V. Erie Ins. Exch.: An Insurer May Not Invoke A Business Pursuit Exclusion To Abandon Its Duty To Defend Without Considering The Continuity And Profit Motive Of Its Insured's Business, Lauren Ellison

University of Baltimore Law Forum

The Court of Appeals of Maryland held that for a third party complaint to trigger a “business pursuits” exclusion, the insurer must consider the insured’s business continuity and profit motive. Springer v. Erie Ins. Exch., 439 Md. 142, 146, 94 A.3d 75, 78 (2014). The court further held that the allegations made in the third party’s complaint were insufficient to trigger the “business pursuits” exclusion.

Recent Development: Hamilton V. Kirson: The Court Of Appeals Of Maryland Held That Circumstantial Evidence Offered To Satisfy The Causation Element Of A Prima Facie Claim Of Negligence In Lead Paint Cases Must Demonstrate A Reasonable Probability, Not Mere Possibility, That The Subject Property Was The Cause Of The Lead Exposure, Matthew Stegman

University of Baltimore Law Forum

The Court of Appeals of Maryland held, in two consolidated cases, that circumstantial evidence presented to prove injuries from lead paint exposure was insufficient to survive a motion for summary judgment on the issue of causation.

Admissibility Of Scientific Evidence And Expert Testimony: One Potato, Two Potato, Daubert, Frye, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

This handout from a Maryland Judicial Institute presentation covers the Maryland Rules concerning expert testimony and the ways they differ from the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Out-Of-Court Statements: The Concentric Hoops Of The Hearsay Rule And The Confrontation Clause, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

This 44 page booklet created for the Maryland Judicial Institute outlines hearsay evidence, how hearsay overlaps with the Confrontation Clause, and the exceptions to hearsay under Maryland law.

The 'Double Feature' Of Hearsay And The Confrontation Clause, Plus Coming Attractions, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

Class handout outlining the interaction between the evidence rule of hearsay and the Confrontation Clause of the Constitution.

Fact, Fiction And Proof In The 21st Century: Evidence And Credibility For Fact Finding By Administrative Law Judges, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

Handout from a panel at the NAALJ Annual Conference covering credibility.

Hearsay Law: Recent Developments In Maryland And In The Supreme Court, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

Handout from an Anne Arundel County Bar Association CLE class concerning then-recent developments in Maryland hearsay rules.

Expert Testimony And Scientific Evidence, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

Handout from a day-long lecture on expert and scientific testimony at the Maryland Judicial Institute.

Impeachment Of Witnesses: A Walking Tour, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

This handout from the Maryland State's Attorneys' Convention in 2003 summarizes the general methods of witness impeachment, who may be impeached, and impeachments by attacks on witnesses' character for truthfulness.

"Quick-Takes" On A Few Recent Decisions In Evidence Law ... And Rule 5-407, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

Handout from the State and Local Government Law Institute covering recent (2003) Maryland evidence cases.

An Introduction To The Rules Of Evidence Applicable To Collection Cases In Maryland Trial Courts, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

This class handout introduces students to the basic concepts of evidence using examples and language from the Maryland Rules of Evidence.

Copyright Corner: The Adoption Of Ucita In Maryland, Harvey K. Morrell

All Faculty Scholarship

In the December 1999 issue of AALL Spectrum, Charles Cronin provided a fine overview of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) and its potential impact on libraries. As he indicated, the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) offered UCITA to several state legislatures for consideration, with Maryland and Virginia vying to become the first state to enact it. Virginia, whose legislative session began a couple of months before Maryland’s and whose process did not allow much opposition, was first across the line. However, one amendment, included near the end of the process, delayed implementation of the …

Evidentiary Considerations In Civil Cases, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

Handout from a presentation at the Maryland Judicial Institute outlining character evidence and providing the text of the applicable Rules.

Maryland's Adoption Of A Code Of Evidence, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

This short paper written just after the adoption of the Maryland Rules of Evidence explains the rules and the process it took to adapt the Federal Rules of Evidence for use in Maryland.

Maryland's First Evidence Code, Lynn Mclain

All Faculty Scholarship

This outline from a talk given by Professor McLain outlines the history of the rules of evidence Maryland has used and provides a quick summary of the then-new Title 5, the Maryland Rules of Evidence.