Ch. 222                               LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 222

                                    (House Bill 462)

AN ACT concerning

Criminal Cases - Trial Dates in Circuit Courts

FOR the purpose of clarifying the provisions that relate to
setting trial dates for criminal matters in the circuit
courts and to postponing those dates; and clarifying
language.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 591

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1982 Replacement Volume and 1986 Supplement)

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

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

591.

(a) [Within two weeks after the arraignment of a person
accused of a criminal offense, or within two weeks after the
filing of an appearance of counsel or the appointment of counsel
for an accused in any criminal matter, whichever shall occur
first, a judge or other designated official of the circuit court
in which the matter is pending, shall set a date for the trial of
the case, which date shall be not later than 180 days from the
date of the arraignment of the person accused or the appearance
or the appointment of counsel for the accused whichever occurs
first. The date established for the trial of the matter shall
not be postponed except for good cause shown by the moving party
and only with the permission of the administrative judge of the
court where the matter is pending.] THE DATE FOR TRIAL OF A
CRIMINAL MATTER IN A CIRCUIT COURT:

(1) SHALL BE SET WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE EARLIER OF:

(I) THE APPEARANCE OF COUNSEL; OR

                   (II) THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE DEFENDANT

BEFORE THE CIRCUIT COURT, AS PROVIDED IN THE MARYLAND RULES; AND

   (2) MAY NOT BE LATER THAN 180 DAYS AFTER THE EARLIER

OF THOSE EVENTS.

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