Legal Opinion

State v. Thornton & Dunbar

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Decided June 26, 2026No. 46/25Published

1Opinion of the Court

State of Maryland v. William Thornton and James Dunbar, No. 46, September Term, 2025. Opinion by Killough, J. CRIMINAL LAW – PLAIN ERROR REVIEW The Supreme Court of Maryland determined that the law governing the admission of unqualified toolmark and firearms identification testimony was not “clear or obvious” error at either the time of trial or the time of appeal. This finding is dispositive under plain-error review. Abruquah v. State,

483 Md. 637

(2023), is a case-specific Daubert determination, not a per se prohibition on unqualified firearms identification testimony. CRIMINAL LAW – SIXTH…

2Cases cited40 opinions

Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1993
Allen v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1896
In Re OliverSupreme Court of the United States · 1948
Waller v. GeorgiaSupreme Court of the United States · 1984
Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court of Cal., Riverside Cty.Supreme Court of the United States · 1984

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