The president of the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police is speaking out against State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby's plans to eliminate bench trials in Maryland.
In a statement on Twitter, Gene Ryan said, "Every judge in the state of Maryland...should be offended at this position because what Mrs. Mosby is saying is that she does not believe that judges who hear cases, non-jury, would do so in a fair and impartial manner, nor can they render a verdict solely based on the evidence presented."
Mosby on Thursday pointed to the inability to convict any officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, three of whom opted for bench trials before charges against all of the officers were dropped.
She said she wants to push for state legislation that would give judges and prosecutors the ability to reject a defendant’s right to choose a bench trial.
Here's Ryan's complete statement.
Statement from Pres. Gene Ryan regarding judicial reforms proposed by SA Mosby @MarilynMosbyEsq @BaltimoreSAO pic.twitter.com/zTCPiEHJPR
— Baltimore City FOP (@FOP3) October 21, 2016
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