A Baltimore judge approved a prosecution motion to dismiss the cases of attempted murder defendants Justin Griggs, 19, and Donte Mack, 23, on Feb. 3, leading defense attorney Roya Hanna to raise concerns about recent practices employed by the Office of the State’s Attorney.
The state’s attorney declined to explain the reasons for dismissal, citing an “exercise of the state’s discretion” while noting his office’s plans to move forward with a new indictment following approval of the motion.
Hanna, who represents Griggs, and Mack’s attorney, Christopher O’Meara, invoked their clients’ right to speedy trial, with Hanna arguing that the co-defendants had already faced two trial postponements in July and October last year. The state had not informed Hanna or O’Meara of their intent to file a new indictment at either hearing, Hanna added.
While Maryland speedy trial laws state that criminal trials must commence within 180 days of a defendant’s or defense attorney’s initial appearance in court, Mack and Griggs, who both entered their initial appearances on March 13 last year, have awaited trial for over a year since their arrests on Jan. 15, 2025.
In objecting to the dismissal motion, Hanna expressed to Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Hope Tipton that it seems “almost policy of the State’s Attorney’s Office, when they’re not prepared for trial, to dismiss cases and recharge them.”
The state’s attorney responded, “I’ve never heard of that.”
Though Judge Tipton informed Griggs and Mack that the court would issue releases for both defendants following the conclusion of the hearing, she noted it may be pointless for them to follow through as the state’s attorney planned to refile their indictments later that day.
Griggs and Mack face charges of attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and multiple firearm and conspiracy violations for their alleged involvement in a shooting incident that occurred on the 2300 block of W. North Avenue over a year ago.
