{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-procedure-4-103","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 4–103","heading":"","body":"(a) If a defendant is charged with a felony other than a felony within the jurisdiction of the District Court, at the time of the defendant’s initial appearance, as required by Maryland Rule 4-213, a court or court commissioner shall advise the defendant of the defendant’s right to request a preliminary hearing.\n(b) (1) If a defendant is charged with a felony other than a felony within the jurisdiction of the District Court, the defendant may request a preliminary hearing at the defendant’s initial appearance or at any time within 10 days after the initial appearance.\n(2) If the defendant does not request a preliminary hearing within 10 days after the initial appearance, the right to a preliminary hearing is waived.\n(c) (1) If a defendant is charged with a felony other than a felony within the jurisdiction of the District Court, the right of a defendant to a preliminary hearing is absolute if:\n(i) the defendant is charged by criminal information; and\n(ii) the defendant requests a preliminary hearing in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.\n(2) If the defendant is charged by grand jury indictment, the right of a defendant to a preliminary hearing is not absolute but the court may allow the defendant to have a preliminary hearing.\n(3) In any other case, the right of a defendant to a preliminary hearing is not absolute, but on motion of the State’s Attorney or the defendant, and subject to the Maryland Rules, the court may allow the defendant to have a preliminary hearing.","path":["Article - Criminal Procedure"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcp\u0026section=4-103","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:17Z","sha256":"2f682501338f038f8565e99ea4755aac136256ae99c4c76b507ec0846efbacbc","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-procedure-4-102","next":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-procedure-4-104"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}