“I do believe with this case they are on for the whole ride unless MD law provides that a judge can somehow dismiss such a charge prior to trial.”
A judge can dismiss the charges in a pre-trial hearing on the evidence. These charges each have conditions, and if they are not met, they cannot stand.
Unless it`s a black Judge and pal of the Prosecutor.
What kind of hearing are you talking about? Certainly at a pre trial hearing on the admissability of evidence a judge can suppress evidence on a constitutional basis which generally effectively ends the prosecution. I'm not sure what type of other pre trial hearing allows a judge to rule on the merits of the evidence other than an arraignment where a judge can decide whether the facts offered by the state would constitute the crime charged if true. However, some states do provide for pre trail hearings to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to more forward but not the majority.