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RULE 4-331. MOTIONS FOR NEW TRIAL; REVISORY POWER

West's Annotated Code of MarylandMaryland RulesEffective: July 1, 2021

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Maryland Rules
Title 4. Criminal Causes
Chapter 300. Trial and Sentencing
Effective: July 1, 2021
MD Rules, Rule 4-331
RULE 4-331. MOTIONS FOR NEW TRIAL; REVISORY POWER
Currentness
(a) Within Ten Days of Verdict. On motion of the defendant filed within ten days after a verdict, the court, in the interest of justice, may order a new trial.
Cross reference: For the effect of a motion under this section on the time for appeal see Rules 7-104(b) and 8-202(b).
(b) Revisory Power. The court has revisory power and control over the judgment to set aside an unjust or improper verdict and grant a new trial:
(1) in the District Court, on motion filed within 90 days after its imposition of sentence if an appeal has not been perfected;
(2) in the circuit courts, on motion filed within 90 days after its imposition of sentence. Thereafter, the court has revisory power and control over the judgment in case of fraud, mistake, or irregularity.
(c) Newly Discovered Evidence. The court may grant a new trial or other appropriate relief on the ground of newly discovered evidence which could not have been discovered by due diligence in time to move for a new trial pursuant to section (a) of this Rule:
(1) on motion filed within one year after the later of (A) the date the court imposed sentence or (B) the date the court received a mandate issued by the final appellate court to consider a direct appeal from the judgment or a belated appeal permitted as post conviction relief; and
(2) on motion filed at any time if the motion is based on DNA identification testing not subject to the procedures of Code, Criminal Procedure Article, § 8-201 or other generally accepted scientific techniques the results of which, if proved, would show that the defendant is innocent of the crime of which the defendant was convicted.
Committee note: Newly discovered evidence of mitigating circumstances does not entitle a defendant to claim actual innocence. See Sawyer v. Whitley, 112 S.Ct. 2514 (1992).
(d) DNA Evidence. If the defendant seeks a new trial or other appropriate relief under Code, Criminal Procedure Article, § 8-201, the defendant shall proceed in accordance with Rules 4-701 through 4-711. On motion by the State, the court may suspend proceedings on a motion for new trial or other relief under this Rule until the defendant has exhausted the remedies provided by Rules 4-701 through 4-711.
Cross reference: For retroactive applicability of Code, Criminal Procedure Article, § 8-201, see Thompson v. State, 411 Md. 664 (2009).
(e) Form of Motion. A motion filed under this Rule shall (1) be in writing, (2) state in detail the grounds upon which it is based, (3) if filed under section (c) of this Rule, describe the newly discovered evidence, and (4) contain or be accompanied by a request for hearing if a hearing is sought.
(f) Disposition. The court may hold a hearing on any motion filed under this Rule. Subject to section (d) of this Rule, the court shall hold a hearing on a motion filed under section (c) if a hearing was requested and the court finds that: (1) if the motion was filed pursuant to subsection (c)(1) of this Rule, it was timely filed, (2) the motion satisfies the requirements of section (e) of this Rule, and (3) the movant has established a prima facie basis for granting a new trial. The court may revise a judgment or set aside a verdict prior to entry of a judgment only on the record in open court. The court shall state its reasons for setting aside a judgment or verdict and granting a new trial.
Cross reference: Code, Criminal Procedure Article, §§ 6-105, 6-106, 11-104, and § 11-503.
Source: This Rule is derived in part from former Rule 770 and M.D.R. 770 and is in part new.

Credits

[Adopted April 6, 1984, eff. July 1, 1984. Amended June 3, 1988, eff. July 1, 1988; Dec. 10, 1996, eff. July 1, 1997; April 8, 1997, eff. July 1, 1997; Oct. 5, 1999; Nov. 1, 2001, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Jan. 8, 2002, eff. Feb. 1, 2002; Sept. 10, 2009, eff. Oct. 1, 2009; March 9, 2010, eff. July 1, 2010; Oct. 4, 2012, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Dec. 7, 2015, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; March 30, 2021, eff. July 1, 2021.]
MD Rules, Rule 4-331, MD R CR Rule 4-331
Current with amendments received through February 1, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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