Commission To Discuss Bail Attorney Mandate

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A commission established by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley to oversee a program to provide defendants in criminal cases with attorneys for all bail hearings will meet to discuss its plans.

The Commission to Reform Maryland's Pretrial System will meet in Annapolis on Tuesday. The requirement that defendants have lawyers at all bail hearings went into effect on July 1. It followed a ruling last year by a Court of Appeals panel that having an attorney at an initial appearance is a constitutional right.

The commission was established by executive order in May to look at pretrial systems around the country. It will deliver recommendations for reform to O'Malley by Dec. 1.

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