HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                       2473

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1986.

Approved May 27, 1986.

CHAPTER 656

(Senate Bill 199)

AN ACT concerning

Petit Juries - Peremptory Challenges

FOR the purpose of altering the number of peremptory challenges
available to a defendant and the State in criminal
proceedings involving a sentence of 20 years or more but
less than life; making a stylistic change; and clarifying
the criminal proceedings that involve a sentence of death or
life imprisonment: and generally relating to peremptory
challenges.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Section 8-301

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1984 Replacement Volume and 1985 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

8-301.

(a) In a trial in which the defendant is subject, on any
single count, to a sentence of death[, life imprisonment, or 20
years or more of imprisonment, except for common law offenses for
which no specific penalty is provided by statute,] BECAUSE NOTICE
OF INTENTION TO SEEK A SENTENCE OF DEATH HAS BEEN GIVEN UNDER
ARTICLE 27, § 412 OF THE CODE, each defendant is permitted 20
peremptory challenges and the State is permitted [ten] 10
peremptory challenges for each defendant.

(B) IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT IS SUBJECT,
ON ANY SINGLE COUNT, TO A SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT,
INCLUDING A CASE IN WHICH NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SEEK A SENTENCE
OF DEATH HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN UNDER ARTICLE 27, § 412 OF THE CODE,
EXCEPT FOR COMMON LAW OFFENSES FOR WHICH NO SPECIFIC PENALTY IS
PROVIDED BY STATUTE, EACH DEFENDANT IS PERMITTED 20 PEREMPTORY