HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1057
CHAPTER 845.
(House Bill 797)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections
13 and 13A of Article 52 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1943 Supplement), title "Justices of the Peace", sub-title
'Criminal Jurisdiction", relating to the docketing by the
Circuit Court of cases originating before the Trial Magis-
trates and tried by the Circuit Court on appeal or otherwise,
and providing for appeal to the Court of Appeals in certain
cases.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Sections 13 and 13A of Article 52 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1943 Supplement), title "Justices of the
Peace", sub-title "Criminal Jurisdiction", be and they are here-
by repealed and re-enacted, with amendment, to read as fol-
lows:

13. (a) The several Trial Magistrates of the State of Mary-
land (except in the City of Baltimore) are hereby vested with,
and shall have hereafter jurisdiction to hear, try and determine
all cases involving the charge of any offense, crime or misde-
meanor, not punishable by confinement in the Penitentiary or
involving a felonious intent, which may be committed within
their respective counties; and shall have jurisdiction to hear,
try and determine all prosecutions or proceedings for the
recovery of any penalty for doing or omitting to do any act
within their respective counties, the doing of which or the
omission to do which, is made punishable under the laws of
this State by any pecuniary fine or penalty, or by imprison-
ment in jail or in the Maryland House of Correction, all of
which acts or omissions are hereby declared to be criminal
offenses; and the said Trial Magistrates shall have power to
issue all process, and to do all acts which may be necessary
for the exercise of their said jurisdiction, and may pronounce
judgment and sentence in all such cases coming before them,
in the same manner, and to the same extent as the Circuit
Courts for said counties could, if such cases had been tried
before said Courts; provided, however, that the accused, when
brought before any such Trial Magistrate, or being informed
by him of his right to trial by jury, freely elects to be tried
before such Trial Magistrate, and provided, further, that a jury
trial be not prayed in such case on the part of the State by the
State's Attorney.

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