Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration — Subtitle 3. Obstructing Justice
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 9-301 (2026)
Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration
Subtitle 3. Obstructing Justice
§ 9–301LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Official proceeding” includes a criminal trial, a hearing related to a criminal trial or adjudicatory hearing, a grand jury proceeding, and any other proceeding that is part of a criminal action or juvenile delinquency case.
(c)
“Victim” means a person against whom a crime or delinquent act has been committed or attempted.
(d)
“Witness” means a person who:
(1)
has knowledge of the existence of facts relating to a crime or delinquent act;
(2)
makes a declaration under oath that is received as evidence for any purpose;
(3)
has reported a crime or delinquent act to a law enforcement officer, prosecutor, intake officer, correctional officer, or judicial officer; or
(4)
has been served with a subpoena issued under the authority of a court of this State, any other state, or the United States.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 9-302 (2026)
Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration
Subtitle 3. Obstructing Justice
§ 9–302LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not harm another, threaten to harm another, or damage or destroy property with the intent to:
(1)
influence a victim or witness to testify falsely or withhold testimony; or
(2)
induce a victim or witness:
(i)
to avoid the service of a subpoena or summons to testify;
(ii)
to be absent from an official proceeding to which the victim or witness has been subpoenaed or summoned; or
(iii)
not to report the existence of facts relating to a crime or delinquent act.
(b)
A person may not solicit another person to harm another, threaten to harm another, or damage or destroy property with the intent to:
(1)
influence a victim or witness to testify falsely or withhold testimony; or
(2)
induce a victim or witness:
(i)
to avoid the service of a subpoena or summons to testify;
(ii)
to be absent from an official proceeding to which the victim or witness has been subpoenaed or summoned; or
(iii)
not to report the existence of facts relating to a crime or delinquent act.
(c)
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.
(2)
If the testimony, subpoena, official proceeding, or report involving the victim or witness relates to a felonious violation of Title 5 of this article or the commission of a crime of violence as defined in § 14–101 of this article, or a conspiracy or solicitation to commit such a crime, a person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.
(d)
A sentence imposed under this section may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence for any crime based on the act establishing the violation of this section.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 9-303 (2026)
Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration
Subtitle 3. Obstructing Justice
§ 9–303LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not intentionally harm another, threaten to harm another, or damage or destroy property with the intent of retaliating against:
(1)
a victim or witness for:
(i)
giving testimony in an official proceeding; or
(ii)
reporting a crime or delinquent act;
(2)
a juror for any reason relating to the performance of the juror’s official duties in a pending or completed case in a court of the State or the United States; or
(3)
an officer of the court of the State or the United States for any reason relating to the performance of the officer’s official duties in a pending or completed case.
(b)
A person may not solicit another person to intentionally harm another, threaten to harm another, or damage or destroy property with the intent of retaliating against:
(1)
a victim or witness for:
(i)
giving testimony in an official proceeding; or
(ii)
reporting a crime or delinquent act;
(2)
a juror for any reason relating to the performance of the juror’s official duties in a pending or completed case in a court of the State or the United States; or
(3)
an officer of the court of the State or the United States for any reason relating to the performance of the officer’s official duties in a pending or completed case.
(c)
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.
(2)
If the official proceeding or report described in subsection (a) of this section relates to a felonious violation of Title 5 of this article or the commission of a crime of violence as defined in § 14–101 of this article, or a conspiracy or solicitation to commit such a crime, a person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.
(d)
A sentence imposed under this section may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence for any crime based on the act establishing the violation of this section.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 9-304 (2026)
Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration
Subtitle 3. Obstructing Justice
§ 9–304LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A finding of good cause under this section may be based on any relevant evidence including credible hearsay.
(b)
(1)
For good cause shown, a court with jurisdiction over a criminal matter or juvenile delinquency case may pass an order that is reasonably necessary to stop or prevent:
(i)
the intimidation of a victim or witness; or
(ii)
a violation of this subtitle.
(2)
The order may:
(i)
prohibit a person from violating this subtitle;
(ii)
require an individual to maintain a certain physical distance from another person specified by the court;
(iii)
prohibit a person from communicating with another individual specified by the court, except through an attorney or other individual specified by the court; and
(iv)
impose other reasonable conditions to ensure the safety of a victim or witness.
(3)
The court may hold a hearing to determine if an order should be issued under this subsection.
(c)
(1)
The court may use its contempt power to enforce an order issued under this section.
(2)
The court may revoke the pretrial release of a defendant or child respondent to ensure the safety of a victim or witness or the integrity of the judicial process if the defendant or child respondent violates an order passed under this section.
(d)
A District Court commissioner or an intake officer, as defined in § 3-8A-01 of the Courts Article, may impose for good cause shown a condition described in subsection (b)(2) of this section as a condition of the pretrial release of a defendant or child respondent.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 9-305 (2026)
Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration
Subtitle 3. Obstructing Justice
§ 9–305LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not, by threat, force, or corrupt means, try to influence, intimidate, or impede a juror, a witness, or an officer of a court of the State or of the United States in the performance of the person’s official duties.
(b)
A person may not solicit another person to, by threat, force, or corrupt means, try to influence, intimidate, or impede a juror, a witness, or an officer of the court of the State or of the United States in the performance of the person’s official duties.
(c)
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.
(2)
If an act described in subsection (a) of this section is taken in connection with a proceeding involving a felonious violation of Title 5 of this article or the commission of a crime of violence as defined in § 14–101 of this article, or a conspiracy or solicitation to commit such a crime, a person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.
(d)
A sentence imposed under this section may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence for any crime based on the act establishing the violation of this section.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 9-306 (2026)
Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration
Subtitle 3. Obstructing Justice
§ 9–306LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not, by threat, force, or corrupt means, obstruct, impede, or try to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in a court of the State.
(b)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 9-307 (2026)
Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration
Subtitle 3. Obstructing Justice
§ 9–307LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not destroy, alter, conceal, or remove physical evidence that the person believes may be used in a pending or future official proceeding with the intent to impair the verity or availability of the physical evidence in the official proceeding.
(b)
A person may not fabricate physical evidence in order to impair the verity of the physical evidence with the intent to deceive and that the fabricated physical evidence be introduced in a pending or future official proceeding.
(c)
A person may not introduce physical evidence in an official proceeding if the person knows that the evidence has been altered or fabricated with the intent to deceive in order to impair the verity of the physical evidence.
(d)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.