Maryland Circuit Court Information and Rules

In Maryland, each of  the 23 counties along with the Baltimore city  has their own circuit court. There are eight judicial circuits in the State of Maryland, each of which covers at least two counties except the Eighth Circuit, which only covers Baltimore city. The counties covered by the eight  judicial circuits in the Maryland are:

·    First  Judicial Circuit : Dorchester, Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset
·    Second Judicial Circuit: Cecil, Kent, Caroline, Talbot and Queen Anne’s
·    Third Judicial Circuit: Hardford and Baltimore county
·    Fourth Judicial Circuit : Washington, Garrett and Allegany
·    Fifth Judicial Circuit: Howard, Carroll and Ann Arundel
·    Sixth Judicial Circuit : Montgomery and Federick
·    Seventh Judicial Circuit:  Charles , Calvert,  St. Mary’s and Prince George’s
·    Eighth Judicial Circuit :  Baltimore city

For more information on the counties and circuit courts in Maryland, please visit: http://www.courts.state.md.us/.

Circuit Court Jurisdiction

The circuit courts in Maryland are the state’s highest court of record. These are trial courts with general jurisdiction and enjoy original jurisdiction in all criminal and civil matters.The circuit courts also have jurisdiction over cases relating to family law and divorce cases. In Maryland these courts are the only ones that can try cases by the jury system. The Orphan’s Court deal with matters pertaining to probate and estate cases in the State of Maryland.

Civil Matters

The circuit courts exercise original jurisdiction in most civil cases which require deliberations on the rights, obligations and duties of the parties in dispute, or for determining the ownership of property or a case in which an injunctive relief is sought. In matters of claims and delivery and cases that involve landlord and tenant matters, the district courts enjoy exclusive original jurisdiction irrespective of the matter that is in controversy.

Additionally, in matters that involve monetary damages in which the amount in dispute or contention is more than $30,000 for contract and tort cases, the circuit courts exercise original jurisdiction. But in tort and contract cases where the amount of money in dispute is between $5,000 and $30,000, the circuit courts in Maryland, share concurrent jurisdiction with the district courts of the state. In (contract and tort) cases where the amount in controversy is less than $5,000, the district courts enjoy exclusive jurisdiction. If the amount in contention is more than $10,000, then a party may remove the case filed in the district court and move it to the circuit court, requesting a trial by jury.

Criminal Matters

The circuit courts in Maryland usually exercise original jurisdiction on cases involving felonies, and concurrent jurisdiction in cases pertaining to misdemeanors in which the penalty is more than three years of jail time or a fine of $2,500 or more.

Composition

The composition of judges in each circuit court is decided by a state statute. Usually a circuit court has a Chief Judge and other associate judges. The Chief Judge is the senior-most judge in the circuit. The judges serve a fifteen-year term.  

For information on circuit court locations, please visit the following website: http://www.courts.state.md.us/circuit/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/directory.html