State v. Seward

In Douglas v. State, 423 Md. 156, 31 A.3d 250 (2011), the Court of Appeals recognized a right of appeal, from the “denial” of a petition for writ of actual innocence, by the petitioner. But it left open the question of whether the State has a corresponding and comparable right of appeal from the “grant” of such a petition. That issue is now before us in this appeal.

George Cameron Seward, appellee, was convicted, after a bench trial in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, of first-degree rape, first-degree sexual offense, assault with intent to murder, and related lesser offenses. He…