Terms Used In Maryland Code, COURTS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS 7-203

  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(a) In this section, the term “not guilty” does not include a finding of probation before judgment under § 6-220 of the Criminal Procedure Article.

(b) (1) The clerk of the circuit court may not charge a county or Baltimore City with fees or costs of a criminal proceeding, regardless of whether the fee or cost was imposed or allowed by statute or common law.

(2) The clerk of a circuit court may not charge a defendant with the costs of a criminal proceeding in which the defendant is found not guilty.