Court Costs and Fines

• Jurisdiction: Maryland

XVIII. Court costs and fines

A. Court costs

The court may assess court costs against the defendant upon (1) a finding of guilt; (2) an entry of probation before judgment (PBJ); or (3) the acceptance of a plea of nolo contendere. Alternatively, the court may waive court costs or suspend a portion of the court costs, considering the defendant's financial circumstances. Md. Rule 4-353(a). In Medley v. State, 386 Md. 3, 9-10 (2005), the Court of Appeals held that the defendant may not be assessed jury costs. See also ABA Standards for Criminal Justice Standard 18-3.22.

B. Fines

The court may impose a fine, which the court may stay. If the defendant appeals a fine-only...