State v. Samples

This case addresses when a preliminary hearing is required when the State charges a defendant by information in the circuit court. Specifically, can the State charge a defendant with misdemeanor offenses in the circuit court in the absence of a preliminary hearing? The Circuit Court for Baltimore City answered that question in the negative and dismissed the criminal charges against Kelsey Samples, appellee.

On appeal, 1 the State presents the following question for our review:

Did the circuit court improperly dismiss [appellee’s] criminal case based upon the prosecutor’s having charged…