BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Gov. Martin O’Malley has ordered that a panel study pretrial reform in Maryland.

O’Malley issued an executive order on Tuesday to create the Governor’s Commission to Reform Maryland’s Pretrial System. It will be charged with issuing recommendations to the governor by Dec. 1.

The panel has been created in response to a ruling last year by Maryland’s highest court that defendants have a right to legal counsel at every bail hearing. Lawmakers failed to agree on a solution in the last legislation session.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals on Tuesday set a July 1 date for the ruling to go into effect.

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