Maryland Manual On-Line

DISTRICT COURT OF MARYLAND

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

[photo, Maryland Judicial Center, Annapolis, Maryland] The District Court of Maryland began operating as a court of record in July 1971. It had been created by constitutional amendment in 1970 (Chapter 789, Acts of 1969, ratified Nov. 3, 1970; Const., Art. IV, secs. 41A through 41-I). The Court replaced the justices of the peace, the county trial magistrates, the People's Courts (in certain counties), the People's Court of Baltimore City, and the Municipal Court of Baltimore City. With statewide jurisdiction, the Court functions in every county and Baltimore City.

Maryland Judicial Center, Annapolis, Maryland, December 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

In minor civil and criminal matters, and in virtually all violations of the Motor Vehicle Law, the District Court has jurisdiction. The exclusive jurisdiction of the District Court generally includes all landlord and tenant cases; replevin actions; motor vehicle violations; and criminal cases if the penalty is less than three years imprisonment or does not exceed a fine of $2,500, or both. The District Court has concurrent jurisdiction in misdemeanors and certain enumerated felonies, but has little equity jurisdiction.

Small claims (civil cases involving amounts not exceeding $5,000) also come under the jurisdiction of the District Court. In civil cases involving amounts over $5,000 (but not exceeding $30,000), the District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts.

Since the District Court provides no juries, a person entitled to and electing a jury trial must proceed to the Circuit Court (Code 1957, Art. 27, secs. 586, 594D, 616 1/ 2, 643A; Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, secs. 1-601 through 1-608, 2-601 through 2-607, 4-101 through 4-405, 6-403, 7-301, 7-302, 9-201, 11-402, 11-701 through 11-703, 12-401 through 12-404; Code Family Law Article, secs. 4-501 through 4-510).

District Court judges are appointed by the Governor to ten-year terms, subject to Senate confirmation. They do not stand for election. Those appointed may take office upon qualification (or commissioning). Their term of office begins with their commission date. After their being commissioned, a swearing-in date is set.

Since July 1, 2013, some 115 judges, including the Chief Judge, serve on the Court (Chapter 199, Acts of 2005; Chapter 34, Acts of 2013; Code Courts & Judicial Proceedings Article, sec. 1-603).

The Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland is designated by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. As the District Court's administrative head, the Chief Judge appoints administrative judges for each of the twelve districts, subject to the approval of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. A chief clerk of the District Court also is appointed by the Chief Judge as are administrative clerks for each district. With the approval of the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland, a district commissioner is appointed by the District Administrative Judge in each district. District commissioners issue arrest warrants and set bail or collateral.

Administered centrally, the District Court of Maryland is funded totally by the State.

DISTRICTS

The District Court of Maryland is divided into twelve geographical districts. Each district contains one or more political subdivisions, with at least one judge in each subdivision.

ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES COMMITTEE

The Administrative Judges Committee of the District Court of Maryland was formed by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland when the Court began in 1971. At that time, the Committee included the Chief Judge, as chair, the twelve district administrative judges, and the Chief Clerk. In 1978, the Chief Judge extended membership to add five trial judges of the District Court elected at large biennially by written ballot of the administrative and trial judges of the District Court. The Chief Judge further extended membership in 1998 to include the chairs of the Committee on Civil Procedures and the Committee on Criminal and Motor Vehicle Matters, and in 2000 to include the chairs of the Commissioner Education Committee and the Judicial Education Committee. When the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee was formed in 2003, its chair also was added.

Meeting quarterly, the Committee considers matters that affect the administration, operation, and maintenance of the District Court of Maryland.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE
The Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland organized the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee in September 2003. The Committee studies and further develops alternative dispute resolution in the District Court of Maryland.

Appointed by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland, members serve two-year terms.

COMMITTEE ON CIVIL PROCEDURES
The Committee on Civil Procedures was formed in 1973 as the Committee on Civil Matters by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland. The Committee reviews new legislation affecting District Court civil cases and appellate court decisions bearing on the trying of civil causes in District Court. Revisions to District Court forms, practices, and procedures also are recommended by the Committee. Upon request of the Chief Judge or the Administrative Judges of the Court, the Committee studies certain topics in civil law.

Members of the Committee are appointed to indefinite terms by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland.

COMMISSIONER EDUCATION COMMITTEE
In 1971, the Commissioner Education Committee was initiated by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland. Annually, the Committee revises the District Court Commissioners' Manual. It recommends changes to forms and procedures used by Commissioners. Each year, the Committee prepares an educational seminar for all District Court Commissioners.

Committee members are appointed for indefinite terms by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland.

COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL & MOTOR VEHICLE MATTERS
The Committee on Criminal and Motor Vehicle Matters was created by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland in 1973 as two separate committees: the Committee on Criminal Matters, and the Committee on Motor Vehicle Matters. They merged in 1981 to form the present committee. The Committee reviews new legislation affecting District Court criminal and motor vehicle cases and appellate court decisions bearing on the trying of criminal and motor vehicle causes in District Court. The Committee recommends revisions to District Court forms, practices, and procedures. Upon request of the Chief Judge or the Administrative Judges of the Court, the Committee studies certain topics concerning criminal or motor vehicle matters.

Members of the Committee are appointed to indefinite terms by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland.

JUDICIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The Judicial Education Committee was established by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland in 1973. The Committee prepares and presents an annual education conference for all District Court Judges. Topics and speakers are selected by the Committee, whose members frequently make presentations.

The Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland appoints Committee members to two-year terms.

DEFUNCT COMMITTEES

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON COURT LIBRARY REQUIREMENTS
The Ad Hoc Committee on Court Library Requirements was formed by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland in 1994. The Committee developed a core list of law books, periodicals, and other research materials required for District Court libraries and judges' chambers and for use on the bench. It also determined which titles could be discontinued because of infrequent use. The Committee concluded its work in December 1995.

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