3. Pretrial
U.S. District Court of Maryland Local Rules (December 1, 2025)
2. Investigations
Any attorney participating in any grand jury or other investigation shall not make any
extra-judicial public statement which goes beyond the public record or which is not
necessary to inform the public that the investigation is underway, to describe the general
scope of the investigation, to obtain assistance in the apprehension of a suspect, to warn the
public of any danger, or otherwise to aid in the progress of the investigation.
3. Pretrial
From the time of arrest; issuance of an arrest warrant or the filing of a complaint;
information, or indictment in any criminal matter until the commencement of trial or
disposition without trial, a lawyer associated with the prosecution or defense shall not release
or authorize the release, for dissemination by any means of public communication, of any
extra-judicial statement concerning:
a. The prior criminal record (including arrests, indictments, or other charges
of crime), or the character or reputation of the accused, except that the
lawyer may make a factual statement of the accused’s name, age, residence,
occupation, and family status, and if the accused has not been
apprehended, a lawyer associated with the prosecution may release any
information necessary to aid in the apprehension or to warn the public of
any dangers that person may present;
b. The existence or contents of any confession, admission, or statement given
by the accused, or the refusal or failure of the accused to make any
statement;
c. The performance of any examinations or tests or the accused’s refusal or
failure to submit to an examination or test;
d. The identity, testimony, or credibility of prospective witnesses, except that
the lawyer may announce the identity of the victim if the announcement is
not otherwise prohibited by law;
e. The possibility of a plea of guilty to the offense charged or a lesser
offense;
f. Any opinion as to the accused’s guilt or innocence or as to the merits of
the case or the evidence in the case.
The foregoing shall not be construed to preclude the lawyer, in the proper discharge of
official or professional obligations, from announcing the fact and circumstances of arrest
(including time and place of arrest, resistance, pursuit, and use of weapons), the identity of
