Judge: Maryland Broke Detention Rules For Some Riot Suspects
BALTIMORE (AP) -- A Baltimore city judge says the state violated court procedures -- but not the Constitution -- after last week's riots by holding some suspects more than 24 hours without taking them before a judicial officer to have bail set.
Circuit Judge Charles Peters ruled Monday in a case brought by Maryland Public Defender Paul DeWolfe. The judge refused to release two defendants who are still being held.
That's because they saw a district court commissioner within an expanded, 47-hour deadline set under Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's executive order.
Peters didn't say Hogan's order was illegal. The ruling was confined to the defendants in the case.
Prosecutors say judicial and police resources were strained by the April 27 riots. They say police made 182 arrests, about four times the normal number.
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