Maryland County Court Information and Location

The Maryland Judiciary is divided into four different court levels. These include two appellate courts and two trial courts. Both the trial courts are located in the different counties. The trial courts have an important role to play in the judicial system as they are supposed to examine the evidences and pass judgment on a particular case on the basis of the law of the land and legal precedents.

Maryland County Court Divisions

The State of Maryland is divided into twenty four counties. Each of these counties and the city of Baltimore has a circuit court and a district court location. The circuit courts are divided amongst 8 circuits while the district courts are divided amongst 12 judicial districts. There are Orphan courts in the state that are located in 22 different counties.

District Court Locations

Maryland district courts are located in 34 different locations. Each of the counties has a district court where cases are heard and adjudicated by a judge. The district courts in Maryland have jurisdiction over matters concerning landlord tenant quarrels, peace order petitions, certain felony cases and misdemeanors, civil cases worth a certain amount, domestic violence, small claims and replevin actions. 

As far as civil cases are concerned, the district courts can settle claims amounting to $ 5000. If the amount is within the range of $5000-$30,000, a fine of $2500 is imposed or the prison term is of three years, then the district and the circuit courts in the county have a concurrent jurisdiction.

It also presides over cases that have been filed for boating or motor vehicle violations. Cases in the Maryland district courts are heard by the designated judges as there is no scope for a jury trial. There are twelve judicial districts in the state. Here is a quick list of the various judicial districts and their county court locations:

·    District 1: Baltimore City

·    District 2: Somerset, Worcester, Dorchester, Wicomico

·    District 3: Cecil, Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, Kent

·    District 4: St Mary’s, Calvert, Charles

·    District 5: Prince George’s

·    District 6: Montgomery

·    District 7: Anne Arundel

·    District 8: Baltimore

·    District 9: Harford

·    District 10: Howard, Carroll

·    District 11: Washington, Frederick

·    District 12: Garrett, Allegany

Information on district courts in Maryland is available at http://www.courts.state.md.us/district/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/index.html. The working hours of these courts are between 8.30 in the morning to 4.30 in the evening, from Monday to Friday, barring legal holidays.

Circuit Courts in Maryland Counties

The counties in Maryland have a circuit court as well. These are the trial courts and have general jurisdiction. The circuit courts have higher sovereignty than the district courts. These courts are funded by the city or the county in which they are located. The circuit courts decide criminal cases that are more serious in nature, important civil suits such as those filed under the divorce laws, child support and custody laws and family law.

Case decisions from the orphan courts and district courts are often appealed in the circuit courts. They also decide cases of domestic violence. Cases in the circuit courts may either be decided by a judge or at times by a jury. The circuit courts in the county are divided amongst eight circuits. The circuit courts along with the district courts are the trial courts in the state. The circuit courts in the various counties include:

·    1st Circuit: Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, Dorchester

·    2nd Circuit: Talbot, Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Cecil

·    3rd Circuit: Harford, Baltimore County

·    4th Circuit: Washington, Allegany, Garret

·    5th Circuit: Carroll, Howard, Anne Arundel

·    6th Circuit: Montgomery, Frederick

·    7th Circuit: St. Mary’s, Calvert, Prince George’s, Charles

·    8th Circuit: Baltimore City


For more information on circuit courts in Maryland visit http://www.courts.state.md.us/circuit/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/index.html.

Family Courts

The Maryland Judiciary called for the setting up of the family divisions as part of the circuit courts, in 1998. Consequently, family divisions were established in the five largest jurisdictions, namely Prince George’s County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Montgomery County and Baltimore City. The website http://www.courts.state.md.us/family/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/circuitprograms.html features more information on the various aspects of the program.

Orphan Courts

Maryland also has orphan courts located in 22 counties of the state. The orphan courts have their jurisdiction over probate issues like estates and wills. They have the right to appoint a guardian of the estate and to look after the fact that it is well protected, especially those that belong to minors who are still dependant on parental guidance.

In cases regarding minors and their estates, the court has concurrent jurisdiction with the county circuit court.  If a party to a case filed in the orphan court is unhappy with the latter’s decision, then the case may be filed in the circuit courts and be subject to a new hearing before a jury or a judge. It may also be filed in the Court of Special Appeals in the state where it would be decided on the basis of what is already on record. 

Cases in the Orphans Court of Baltimore and most other counties are heard by a judicial bench comprised of three judges. Montgomery County and Harford County are the only exceptions to this rule as the judges of the circuit court are assigned the responsibility of hearing matters filed in the orphans court.  Funds for the administration of the courts are generated locally. The location of the different orphans courts can be determined by visiting http://www.courts.state.md.us/orphanscourt/ocjudgesregisters.pdf