Lansdowne v. State

This case presents two questions. The first question is whether, under Maryland Rules 757 (b) and 757 (d), a trial judge, in a criminal case, must, if requested by the accused, include an explanation of the term "reasonable doubt” in instructions to the jury. The second question is whether a trial judge who has explained the term "reasonable doubt” in preliminary remarks to the jury made at the beginning of a trial, commits reversible error by refusing the accused’s request to explain that term again after the close of the evidence.

Maryland Rule 757 (b) provides in pertinent part:

"The court…