1) A part of the Maryland Constitution defines the common law of Maryland as the Common Law of England as of July 4, 1776
2) In A celebrated case in England in the 1850's a litigant who was due to lose a huge case in desperation issued a challenge for trial by combat to his opponents and showed up in front of the courthouse in full armor at the appointed time. When the other side failed to show up he demanded (and got) a victory by default. A reluctant judge concluded that since it never been altered by statute, trial by combat was still a valid part of English Common Law. An emergency session of Parliment was called the next week to formally outlaw the practice once and for all.
3) Maryland however, never followed suit, so technically Trial by combat remains "on the books" of MD Common Law...
(Note to self, bring an armored suit when visiting Maryland.)
Very interesting.
If Spendenning had'nt had to leave the Governors love nest maybe we could have gotten Dr. Raoul or Sauropod to try it out.