Latest news with #SupremeCourtofMaryland
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Baltimore judge places temporarily hold on over 1,250 Child Victims Act cases
A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge Monday put on hold over 1,250 civil cases filed under the Maryland Child Victims Act pending further guidance from the state's highest court. The administrative order from Administrative Judge and Chief Judge Audrey J.S. Carrión, sought to 'to address the unprecedented influx of cases filed in recent weeks and months' under the law, which eliminated the statute of limitations for civil child sex abuse cases and went into effect in October 2023. The action won't terminate any cases or keep people from filing new cases under the law, Carrión wrote in the order. 'The decision to stay these cases is in large part due to ongoing discussions about possible ways to manage these cases collectively for pretrial and discovery purposes,' she wrote. The Maryland Judiciary's rules committee is considering recommending changes to the state's high court 'to establish a clear process for the circuit courts to efficiently manage the high volume of similarly situated CVA cases,' the order says. The court will wait for 'further guidance' from the rules committee and the Supreme Court of Maryland before the cases can proceed. 'In reaching the decision to temporarily stay these cases, the Court has weighed the understandable desire of parties to proceed with litigating these cases as well as the need for consistency, efficiency, and fairness,' Carrión's order says. An change to the law came into effect June 1, placing new limits on the payouts possible, with the state's liability dropping from a potential $890,000 to $400,000 per claim. Claims against private institutions shrank from a $1.15 million ceiling to $700,000. Leading up to June 1, 'there was a significant uptick in cases' under the law in Baltimore City Circuit Court, the order says. Sun reporter Luke Parker contributed to this story. Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@ 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks.
CBS News
26-02-2025
- CBS News
Baltimore state's attorney withdraws motion to vacate Adnan Syed's previous conviction
Baltimore State's Attorney Ivan Bates says his office will drop the motion to vacate the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, whose case was the subject of the "Serial" podcast. Syed will appear in court on Wednesday for a hearing on his motion for a reduced sentence. Syed, now 43, was freed from prison in 2022 after Baltimore prosecutors, including Marilyn Mosby, identified issues with the trial evidence, leading a judge to overturn his conviction in the 1999 killing of Hae Min Lee, his ex-girlfriend and classmate at Woodlawn High School. However, in August 2024, the Maryland Supreme Court upheld an appellate court's ruling to reinstate the conviction, citing inadequate notice given to Lee's family about the vacatur hearing. Bates says Mosby's decision was based on "false and misleading statements that undermine the integrity of the judicial process." "As prosecutors, our duty is to seek justice and ensure that all legal proceedings are conducted transparently, accurately, and fairly," Bates said in a statement. "While I did not ask for this task, it was remanded to my office by the Supreme Court of Maryland; thus, we have a duty as Maryland-barred attorneys, prosecutors tasked with pursuing justice, and officers of the Court to address false and misleading statements in the State's legal filings - a duty that we take extremely seriously." Bates said his office supports Syed's efforts to be resentenced under new juvenile justice guidelines. In December 2024, Syed's lawyers submitted a motion requesting a judge to lessen his sentence under the Juvenile Restoration Act, a Maryland law that permits individuals who have served at least 20 years in prison for crimes committed as minors to seek a sentence modification. Syed was 17 at the time of the murder of Lee. "I recognize the complexity and sensitivity of this case. I hope this comprehensive review and my ultimate decision bring closure to all parties involved," Bates said.
