Judge’s Absence Delays Two Cases

By Andrew Michaels - February 27, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A homicide case and an unrelated attempted homicide case were delayed one day due to the absence of the presiding Baltimore City Circuit Court judge.

According to the circuit court docket, homicide defendant Forell Isaac and attempted homicide defendant Matthew Lipscomb were scheduled before Judge Gregory Sampson on Feb. 21. However, a courtroom clerk informed Baltimore Witness that both cases would resume on Feb. 22 as Judge Sampson was not in court.

Both defendants were scheduled for jury trial on Tuesday; however, it is unknown how the cases are to proceed as they are unrelated.

Isaac, 39, was initially scheduled to begin trial on Tuesday before Judge Melissa Copeland for charges related to the fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend on Sept. 12, 2021. Robert Ness is currently listed as Isaac’s defense attorney, the Maryland Judiciary website states.

Judge Sampson was set to preside over Lipscomb’s trial for an attempted murder dating back to March 1, 2017. The 29-year-old defendant, who is represented by defense attorney Natalie Finegar, is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, and four weapons charges.