2480                                                LAWS OF MARYLAND                         [Ch. 723

Approved May 31, 1974.

CHAPTER 724
(House Bill 388)
AN ACT concerning

Indigents — Criminal Appeals

FOR the purpose of repealing an obsolete provision of law
concerning the procedure for appeals in criminal
cases if the defendant is indigent.

BY repealing

Article — Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Section 7-103

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1973 Volume)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 7-103 of Article - Courts and
Judicial Proceedings, of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1973 Volume) be and it is hereby repealed:

Article — Courts and Judicial Proceedings
[7-103.

(a)    If the death sentence is imposed and a
defendant files a petition under oath alleging the fact
of his poverty and his inability to pay the costs of
prosecuting an appeal and files an order for appeal in
accordance with the Maryland rules, the sentencing court
shall order the State to pay the costs. A copy of the
order shall be included in the record transmitted to the
Court of Appeals.

(b)    If a defendant in a criminal case has a right
to appeal or apply for leave to appeal to the Court of
Special Appeals and files with his order of appeal or
application for leave to appeal a petition under oath
alleging the fact of his poverty and his inability to pay
the costs, the sentencing or hearing court below, upon
being satisfied that the allegations are true, shall
order the State to pay the costs. A copy of the order
shall be included in the record transmitted to the Court
of Special Appeals.