March 20th, 2014 by WCBC Radio
WBAL reports Senate President Mike Miller says Baltimore City should find its own solution to the requirement of staffing bail hearings with defense lawyers. He says the problem doesn't concern the rest of Maryland. Meanwhile, legislative committees had not advanced a single bill aimed at addressing the problem. The crossover deadline was Monday, which increases the pressure on the House Judicial Proceedings Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee to act soon. Maryland's highest court confirmed on March 7 that the state must provide defense lawyers at all bail hearings of poor defendants. Unless legislators overhaul the bail system before this session ends, the cost of additional lawyers could cost up to $30 million. Senate President Mike Miller told reporters this week that areas like western Maryland and the Eastern Shore should simply retain their current practices.
.jpg)
