PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                                 Ch. 258

Approved May 9, 1995.

CHAPTER 258
(House Bill 409)

AN ACT concerning

Criminal Procedure - Postconviction Procedure - Time for Filing Petitions

FOR the purpose of requiring a person to file petitions for postconviction relief within
certain time periods prohibiting a person from filing a petition for postconviction
relief in certain cases after a certain period of time, unless certain cause is shown;
providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to the time period
for filing for postconviction relief.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments
Section 645A(a)(2)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1992 Replacement Volume and 1994 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

645A.

(a) (2) (I) A person may not file more than 2 petitions, arising out of each
trial, for relief under this subtitle.

(II) UNLESS EXTRAORDINARY CAUSE IS SHOWN, IN A CASE IN
WHICH A SENTENCE OF DEATH HAS NOT BEEN IMPOSED, THE FIRST PETITION SHALL
BE FILED NO LATER THAN 1 YEAR FROM THE LATER OF;

1. IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE;

2. THE MANDATE OF AN APPELLATE COURT REGARDING
THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF THE MATTER;

3. AN ORDER DENYING LEAVE TO APPEAL; OR

4. AN ORDER DENYING A PETITION FOR A WRIT OF
CERTIORARI BY AN APPELLATE COURT OR BY THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES.

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