Court Approves Rules On Bail Hearings

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland's highest court has approved rules to help make sure defendants have an attorney at initial bail bearings, but implementation has been delayed.

The Daily Record reports that the Court of Appeals won't implement the new rules at least until it can issue its decision on a request from the Maryland attorney general's office to stay the decision. That's because the government needs time to find a way to pay about $28 million more annually.

Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger and Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy urged the court to hold off on implementation. They want to give the legislature time to approve the money or pass a measure to end initial bail hearings before a commissioner and have bail set by the District Court judge instead.

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