Smith v. State

Everett Smith v. State of Maryland, No. 61, September Term, 2021. Opinion by Biran, J. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – SIXTH AMENDMENT – RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL – INHERENT PREJUDICE. Petitioner was tried on assault charges in the Circuit Court for Kent County in October 2020. At his trial, two bailiffs wore face masks that displayed the “thin blue line” flag. After Petitioner was convicted of two charges, he argued on appeal that the display of the thin blue line flag was inherently prejudicial to his right to a fair trial under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Court of Appeals…