Magwood v. State

We herein hold that whenever a criminal case has been submitted to the jury for its deliberation, a separation of the jury prior to verdict, without the express consent of the accused, is ordinarily reversible error. 1

The facts giving rise to our holding are uncomplicated. Aaron Philip Magwood (Magwood) was tried in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County for violation of this State’s Controlled Dangerous Substances Laws. Md. Ann. Code art. 27, § 286 (a) (1).

On appeal to this Court, Magwood argues that 1) the trial court erred when it allowed the jury, after deliberations on the verdicts had…