Maryland

Child Marriage Is Banned in Maryland – Washingtonian

Published

2 years ago

April 22, 2022

Child Marriage Is Banned in Maryland – Washingtonian

{Photograph} through Flickr consumer Austin Kirk.

Yesterday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed a regulation banning youngster marriage—a prohibition that many residents had been doubtless shocked to be taught wasn’t already on the books. Previous to this regulation, marriage was authorized beginning at age 15. Now, 15 and 16-year-olds can now not get married in Maryland. And at 17, you will get married solely with parental consent and the blessing of a court docket.

A 2021 Capital Gazette story estimates that 80-100 minors are married in Maryland every year, the overwhelming majority of them teen ladies marrying older males. Moreover, the Washington Publish stories that Maryland has not too long ago change into one thing of a vacation spot for youngster marriage, as {couples} from extra restrictive states flocked to Maryland to wed.

Calling Maryland’s legal guidelines “archaic,” a February Publish op-ed cites the story of a Maryland girl, Skyler, who says she was forcibly married in 2009 on the age of 16. In testimony earlier than Maryland lawmakers (recorded in a pamphlet from the Tahirih Justice Heart), Skyler claims that her abusive mom coerced her into marriage, introducing her to a person “twice her age” who would change into her husband only one week later. Skyler says she went to the courthouse in Elkton for her wedding ceremony, the place the clerks apparently requested no questions—the truth is, Skyler remembers a clerk telling her to “wipe them tears” and “cheer up,” as a result of this is able to be “the happiest day of your life.” Truly, Skyler says, “my complete life was stolen” that day. As an alternative of being a traditional teen, she says she was trapped in an abusive and traumatic marriage that proved tough to flee.

The brand new regulation, which might forestall conditions like Skyler’s, had a circuitous journey to Hogan’s desk attributable to controversy amongst legislators and advocacy teams over the invoice’s potential results—each supposed and never. Some opponents had been predictable (the Publish op-ed claims that one Republican State Senator “clutch[ed] his pearls” {that a} pregnant teen would, beneath this invoice, have to offer start out of wedlock), whereas different opponents had been extra shocking. The Baltimore Solar stories {that a} comparable invoice died within the state legislature in 2018 amid opposition from ladies’s teams who apparently feared that elevating the wedding age may open the door to limiting teen reproductive rights and create different unintended penalties for susceptible younger ladies.

The Solar quotes Diana Philip, director of NARAL Professional-Selection Maryland, making the case that some pregnant teenagers “are going to decide on to marry with a purpose to entry sure companies and sure rights,” like medical insurance. As well as, the Solar reported that among the invoice’s opponents feared that stopping teenagers from marrying would possibly entice them in unhealthy conditions: in line with the Solar, teenagers in Maryland can’t legally emancipate themselves from their dad and mom or guardians, so taking away marriage may take away one of many restricted lifelines out there to younger folks fleeing abuse.

Source link

Maryland

Maryland Weather: Severe Storms Moving in From West

Published

4 hours ago

August 31, 2024

Press Room

Maryland Weather: Severe Storms Moving in From West

Alert Day prompted by chances of severe thunderstorms Saturday evening

03:19

BALTIMORE – Severe storms have been plaguing western Maryland this afternoon. They are on the move east and will push into Carroll County near the 6pm hour. These storms have a history of producing winds capable of downing trees. We are also seeing heavy rain and lightning.

Most of the activity will push north and south of the forecast area surrounding Baltimore with the marine layer or stable air mass keeping the severe weather west of the mountain regions.

The warm front associated with the severe weather is bring warm, humid air in overnight. Expect overnight lows in the low 70s with scattered showers and isolated severe storms.

A secondary cold front will bring another chance for an isolated strong storms on Sunday. The day won’t be a washout, there is the possibility of active weather in the afternoon and evening.

The front will bring bright sunny skies for Monday with low humidity. Perfect weather for the afternoon barbecue or last summer activity. Kids getting back to school this week should expect refreshing temperatures… possibly even a little chilly with overnight lows in the 50s.

High pressure will control our weather for the middle of the week. Expect sunny skies and low humidity through Friday. Overnight lows Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the mid 50s, with afternoon highs in the upper 70s. The chance of showers returns late Friday.

Source link

Maryland

How to watch Maryland football vs. UConn

Published

15 hours ago

August 31, 2024

Press Room

How to watch Maryland football vs. UConn

Maryland football is back and kicks off its season at home against UConn on Saturday.

The Terps will take on the Huskies for first time since 2013, when Maryland won, 32-21. The Terps are coming off an 8-5 season, in which they won their third straight bowl game, while UConn is coming off a disappointing 3-9 season and looking to play spoiler on the road.

With a victory, Maryland will move its week one winning streak to five games.

The numbers

Maryland: 0-0

UConn: 0-0

All-time series: Maryland leads, 2-1

DraftKings Sportsbook line: Maryland -19.5, O/U 44.5

How to watch and listen

When: Saturday, Aug. 31, 12 p.m. ET

Where: SECU Stadium, College Park, Maryland

TV: Fox Sports 1 — Connor Onion (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)

Radio: 105.7 FM (Balt) / 980 AM (DC) – Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Steve Suter (analyst), LaMont Jordan (sideline)

Streaming: Fox Sports

Catch up before the game

Previewing Maryland football’s season opener against UConn

Predictions for Maryland football’s 2024 season: Top players, bold takes and more

Breaking down every game on Maryland football’s schedule

Source link

Maryland

Maryland Supreme Court reinstates Adnan Syed murder conviction, orders new hearing

Published

1 day ago

August 30, 2024

Press Room

Maryland Supreme Court reinstates Adnan Syed murder conviction, orders new hearing

BALTIMORE— Maryland’s Supreme Court has upheld an appellate court’s decision to reinstate the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, whose case gained national attention in 2014 when it was featured on the first season of the “Serial” podcast.

The ruling says the case should be sent back to a lower court for a new hearing on whether it should be thrown out entirely. The decision reverses a lower court’s ruling that had cleared Syed’s name two years ago.

Syed had served more than 20 years for the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee.

He was freed from prison in September 2022 after Baltimore prosecutors found flaws in the evidence presented at trial and a judge agreed to vacate his conviction.

However, Lee’s relatives appealed the decision, contending they didn’t receive sufficient notice to attend the hearing that set Syed free. In March 2023, the Maryland Appellate Court agreed and reinstated Syed’s conviction and ordered a redo of the hearing.

Syed appealed that ruling, bringing the matter to the Maryland Supreme Court. Friday’s ruling comes 11 months after arguments were made.

Justices found the circuit court violated the rights of Young Lee, Hae Min Lee’s brother.

“In an effort to remedy what they perceived to be an injustice to Mr. Syed, the prosecutor and the Circuit Court worked an injustice against Mr. Lee,” the court said.

Syed will remain free until the next hearing which has not been scheduled. The Supreme Court ordered the Lee family must have sufficient notice of the new hearing and a new judge must preside.

“If there’s actually evidence presented that shows that Adnan Syed should not have been convicted, we would be the first ones to congratulate Adnan Syed and argue he should be a free man,” said David Sanford, the attorney for the Lee family. “That hasn’t happened yet.”

In their dissenting opinions, several justices wrote when the case was vacated, any appeal by Young Lee should’ve been rendered moot. Those justices also argued there aren’t any specific victims’ rights that would require Young Lee be allowed to be present at that 2022 hearing.

Syed’s lawyer Erica Suter said that while they disagree with the ruling, the Lee family’s pain in this isn’t lost on them.

“Wrongful convictions devastate the wrongly accused, their family and the family of the victim,” Suter said. “Reinstating Adnan’s wrongful conviction does not provide justice or closure.”

Rabia Chaudry, Syed’s friend and advocate, went on Instagram Live to affirm that she will do what she can to keep Syed a free man.

“I will never not fight for his freedom and I know there are others, also, in his life who will never not fight for his freedom,” Chaudry said.

Major publishers sue Florida over law that led to book bans

Food costs remain high as Americans hold Labor Day BBQs

Video shows teen driving nearly 140 mph days before fatal crash outside Detroit

Source link