The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-10-12
NEW Law SPEEDS JUSTICE

Through the application Of two
new laws, passed by the special ses-
sion of the General Assembly, the
counties of Maryland are saving ap-
proximately 100000 year, accord
ing to Herbert r. O'Conor, States
Attorney for Baltimore City, who
has just announced the results of a
survey he recently completed.
The Statutes in question provide
for the automatic recalling of grand
juries every nine weeks in the coun-
ties, and comforting upon justices of
the peace the power to try and deter
mine cases of larceny, where the
amount involved is less than $500.
These laws were proposed by the
State Judicial Commission of which
Mr.. O'Conor Is chairman, and by the
States Attorneys Association of
Maryland, which was organized by
Mr.. O'Conor, and of which he is
president.
Mr.. O'Conor was called to head
the Judicial Commission, when there
was considerable discussion concern
ing the administration of Criminal
Law throughout the State, and at
the deliberations of that body it was
determined to seek laws which would
provide for prompt trials of cases in
the counties in much the same man
ner that delays are not permitted in
the courts of Baltimore City. At
the same time the members Of the
Commission determined to go furth-
er and not only to facilitate trials
and prevent delays in the counties,
but also to cut down expenses, Incl
dent to criminal prosecutions. In
these efforts, Mr.. O'Conor obtained
the whole-hearted support Of the
States Attorneys in all the counties,
the result of which was the series OF
proposals, which were submitted to
the Legislature and successfully en-
acted into laws.
The aforementioned statutes do
not apply to Baltimore City because
there the Grand Jury functions daily,
throughout the year and cases are
brought to trial in the Criminal
Court within seven days after indict-
ment.
Mr.. O'Conor, who had taken
personal as well as an official inter-
est in the matter, watched the opera
ton of the new laws and had a sur
vey made, which shows the tremend.
Gus saving that will result to the tax
payers in the counties.
Mr.. O'Conor in his statement said:
1.-THE saving under the grand jury
law has been effected through the
prompt indictment and trial of GRIM
inal cases, with the result that the
counties have been spared the ex-
pense of maintenance of prisoners in
the county jai1s for long periods
prior to grand jury action. Pre-
viously grand juries in most of the
counties met only twice annually,
and in many cases the counties were
compelled to house arrested persons
in the jails for five or six months
pending the consideration of their
cases.
1.-THE larceny law was passed fol-
lowing a study of conditions in the
counties of the State where in fire.
quent instances defendants had been
committed by magistrates to the
counties in such instances greatly
exceeding the amounts involved in
the cases. In addition, court costs
and the expenses incident to produc-
ing witnesses before grand juries and
the circuit courts are saved under
the new law.
Purpose To Speed Trials
'In order that the State would
have the right to carry the case to
higher court if the charge involved
person with criminal record, or II
for other reasons the case was con-
sidered serious one, a provision was
included in the law that the States
Attorney of the county could demand
that the case be forwarded to the
grand jury for action"
Besides Mr.. O'Conor, the Judicial
Commission consists of: Chief Judge
Carroll T. Band, of the Court of APP
peals of Maryland; Chief Judge
Judge Samuel X. Dennis, of the Su-
preme Bench of Baltimore City; w.
Preston Lane, Jr., Attorney-General;