624                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 276

CHAPTER 276
(House Bill 690)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 99 of
Article 52 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement
Volume and 1966 Cumulative Supplement), title "Justices of the
Peace," subtitle "Trial Magistrates System," granting the judges
of People's Court for Prince George's County the power and au-
thority to issue writs of subpoena duces tecum, habeas corpus ad
prosequendum, and habeas corpus ad testificandum.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 99 of Article 52 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1964 Replacement Volume and 1966 Cumulative Supplement), title
"Justices of the Peace," subtitle "Trial Magistrates System," be and
it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

99.

The judges of the People's Court of Montgomery County, except
the People's Court judge for juvenile causes, and the judges of the
People's Court of Prince George's County and the judges of the
People's Court of Harford County, shall have all the authority,
powers, civil, criminal and juvenile jurisdiction (except the judges
of the People's Court of Harford County and Prince George's County
shall not have juvenile jurisdiction), in the whole of said counties,
heretofore vested in the justices of the peace designated as trial
magistrates and other justices of the peace of said counties; provided
the authority, powers and jurisdiction heretofore, or as may hereafter
be vested in said other justices of the peace shall be unaffected by
this provision.

In addition to the powers above enumerated, and not in derogation
or limitation thereof, the judges of the people's court shall have the
following powers:

(a)  To suspend or reduce sentence and/or costs in any case within
their jurisdiction within ten days in Montgomery County and thirty
days in Prince George's County and Harford County after judgment
has been pronounced, provided, however, that the court shall not be
authorized to reduce the fine for any criminal or traffic offense below
the minimum fine prescribed by law for such offense, and provided
further, that nothing herein shall be construed to affect the power
of the court to suspend any such fine entirely and provided that the
judges of the People's Court of Prince George's County shall have
after the expiration of such period as to sentences imposed revisory
power and control in the case of fraud, mistake or irregularity.

(b)  To regulate by rules the administration, procedure and practice
of said court, such rules to have the force of law until rescinded or
modified by the said judges or the General Assembly, provided, how-
ever, that no formal pleadings shall be required in any case before
the said court, and provided further, however, that counterclaims
and/or setoffs shall be permitted in all civil cases.

In Prince George's County, the judges of the People's Court shall
have the power, in addition to power otherwise enumerated in this