Archives for November 2022
Baltimore Homicide Rate Up in 2022
November 22, 2022 by
City Sees Record Monthly Murder Tolls
2022 is on track to be the deadliest in Baltimore’s history, with nearly 180 homicides in the first six months. The city recorded 42 slayings in May, 2022, the first time that the monthly toll exceeded 40 since May, 2015, when police logged a record 45 killings. The city’s Carrollton Ridge neighborhood, which experienced just six murders between 2012 and 2014, counted six in the month of June this year. City officials expect that the annual tally of homicides in Baltimore will surpass 300 for the 8th year in a row.
Aggressive Baltimore Criminal Defense Lawyer
Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith brings more than three decades of proven experience to criminal defendants across the Baltimore metropolitan area and the state of Maryland, including people charged with violent crimes. He has been received an AV-rating (the highest rating possible) under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System from his colleagues in the Maryland bar for more than 34 years. He has been ranked among the top 100 lawyers in Maryland listed by SuperLawyers and was named a Top-Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine. He has also earned Martindale-Hubbell’s Client Distinction Award, awarded to less than 4% of all lawyers nationwide.
Over the past 30 years, attorney Smith has successfully protected the rights of individuals facing all types of criminal charges, including prosecution for domestic violence or abuse. He will work hard to protect your constitutional rights, fully investigating your case to verify that law enforcement officers and prosecutors follow proper procedures when gathering evidence. He’ll question all potential witnesses and preserve all relevant evidence, so that he can prepare and present the most compelling arguments for your acquittal.
Attorney Smith has been listed among the top 100 attorneys in Maryland by the National Trial Lawyers Association, a “by invitation only” professional organization. He holds a 10.0 (Superb) rating as a trial attorney from AVVO, as well as AVVO’s Client’s Choice Award, with an average client review of 5 stars.
Aggressive Howard County Criminal Defense Attorney
Contact our office by e-mail or call 410-740-0101 for a free initial consultation. We represent criminal defendants in Carroll County, Frederick County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.
Man Dies of Gunshot Wounds 22 Years after Shooting
November 15, 2022 by
Can the Perpetrator Still Be Charged with Murder?
A 38-year-old Baltimore man died in 2021 from gunshot wounds originally sustained in 1999, when he was just 16. Police say the bullet severed the victim’s spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed. After his death, a medical enquiry determined that the man had never returned to good health after the shooting and ruled the death a homicide.
Officials say that, because there is no statute of limitations on murder in Maryland, the perpetrator can still face prosecution. The statute of limitations establishes the time period in which a legal claim must be made. Most criminal acts must be prosecuted within a fixed period of time, but some of the more serious crimes, such as murder, manslaughter and rape, have no time limit on prosecution.
Experienced Baltimore Criminal Defense Attorney
Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith brings more than 30 years of experience to criminal defendants in Maryland, including people charged serious or violent crimes. SuperLawyers has named him one of the top 100 lawyers in Maryland and The American Lawyer Magazine has also cited him as a Top-Rated Lawyer.
Attorney Smith has been AV-rated (the highest possible) by his colleagues in the legal profession under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System for more than three decades. He has also received Martindale-Hubbell’s prized Client Distinction Award, an accolade earned by less than 4% of all attorneys nationwide. He carries a 10.0 (Superb rating) as a trial lawyer from AVVO and has also earned AVVO’s Client’s Choice Award, with an average client review of 5 stars.
A well-respected trial lawyer, Jonathan has a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Maryland criminal law and procedure. He knows how to effectively gather and preserve evidence and will take all necessary measures to ensure that law enforcement officers did not violate your constitutional rights.
Contact a Proven Maryland Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer
At the law offices of Jonathan Scott Smith, we aggressively advocate for criminal defendants throughout the greater Baltimore area and across the state of Maryland. Contact us online or call 410-740-0101 to arrange a meeting. We handle cases throughout Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.
