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Rule 4-203 – Charging Document-Joinder of Offenses and Defendants

May 13, 2021 | Criminal Prodcedure, Maryland

(a) Multiple Offenses. Two or more offenses, whether felonies or misdemeanors or any combination thereof, may be charged in separate counts of the same charging document if the offenses charged are of the same or similar character or are based on the same act or transaction or on two or more acts or transactions connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or plan.
(b) Multiple Defendants–Separate Charging Documents. Regardless of whether two or more defendants are alleged to have participated in the same act or transaction or in the same series of acts or transactions, a charging document may not contain charges against more than one defendant.

Md. Crim. Causes. 4-203

This Rule is derived as follows:

Section (a) is derived from former Rule 712 a and M.D.R. 712.

Section (b) is derived from former Rule 712 b.

Adopted April 6, 1984, eff. July 1, 1984. Amended Dec. 7, 2015, eff. Jan. 1, 2016.

HISTORICAL NOTES

2015 Orders

The December 7, 2015, order, prohibited a charging document from containing charges against more than one defendant.