Witherspoon v. Maryland Parole Commission

PAUL E. ALPERT, Judge,

Ret., specially assigned.

In late August of 2000, Milton Witherspoon, the appellant, began serving a 15-year prison sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. In October of 2001, appellant filed a petition for writ of mandamus in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, requesting that the court direct the Maryland Parole Commission to conduct a parole hearing upon his completion of only about 16 months of his sentence. The court denied the petition without a hearing, and appellant filed this appeal.

ISSUE

Appellant argues, in essence, that the trial court…