In re: J.B.

In Re: J.B., Nos. 107 and 2168, September Term, 2023, filed March 28, 2024. Opinion by Beachley, J. STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – PLAIN LANGUAGE – EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION Facts: In the Circuit Court for Harford County, sitting as a juvenile court, twelve- year-old J.B. (appellant) was charged with first- and second-degree assault. Pursuant to a plea agreement, J.B. admitted to “involvement” to second-degree assault, and the State nol prossed the first-degree assault charge. J.B. immediately moved to dismiss the juvenile petition for lack of jurisdiction, arguing that recent changes in…