Courts in Maryland

In Maryland there is one federal district court, two appellate courts (one of which serves as the state supreme court), and two trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.

Click a link for information about that court type.

• Federal courts
• State court of appeals
• Trial courts

The image below depicts the flow of cases through Maryland's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.

The structure of Maryland's state court system.

Judicial selection process

See also: Judicial selection in Maryland and Maryland judicial elections

Selection of state court judges in Maryland occurs largely through the assisted appointment method with an initial appointment by the governor and confirmation through the Maryland State Senate. After serving for at least one year, judges must stand in yes-no retention elections to determine whether they will remain on the court. Maryland Supreme Court and Appellate Court of Maryland judges serve 10-year terms, while circuit court judges serve 15-year terms. Judges of the Maryland District Courts must be reappointed by the governor if they wish to serve another 10-year term.^[1]

To read more about judicial elections in Maryland, click here.

Federal courts

The federal district court in Maryland is the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

Appeals from this court are heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

Active judges

United States District Court for the District of Maryland

Active Article III judges by appointing political party

The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

• Democrat appointed: 9
• Republican appointed: 1

Judicial selection

Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.

Bankruptcy courts

There is one federal bankruptcy court in Maryland. These courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy court in Alabama is:

• United States bankruptcy court, District of Maryland

State supreme court

See also: Maryland Supreme Court

Created in 1776 as the Maryland Court of Appeals, the Maryland Supreme Court is the court of last resort in Maryland. The court's name changed from the Maryland Court of Appeals to the Maryland Supreme Court, following a ballot initiative that voters approved in November 2022.^[2] The court has discretionary jurisdiction over which cases it will accept for review. The court is required to hear cases concerning legislative redistricting, the removal of certain officers, and certifications of legal questions.^[3][4]

The court has seven judges–one chief judge and six associate judges. The judges are selected from each of the state's seven appellate circuits. State supreme court judges are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate. To be reelected, judges must stand in a retention election every ten years. The chief judge, selected by the governor, serves as the constitutional and administrative head of the state's judicial system.^[5]

State court of appeals

See also: Appellate Court of Maryland

The Maryland Court of Appeals, formerly named the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, is the intermediate appellate court in Maryland. The court's name changed from the Maryland Court of Special Appeals to the Maryland Court of Appeals, following a ballot initiative that voters approved in November 2022.^[2] The court was established in 1966. When the court was originally formed, it held limited jurisdiction to only criminal cases. The court's jurisdiction was later expanded and now has general jurisdiction. The court conducts appellate review from most cases originating from the circuit courts and orphans' court. Parties may appeal rulings of the Court of Appeals to the state supreme court.^[6][7]

As of March 2021, the court had 15 active judges, with at least one appointed from each of Maryland's seven appellate circuits. Judges are appointed by the governor and must be confirmed by the Maryland State Senate. Judges must stand for a retention election every ten years. Judges may serve until age 70.^[6]

In most cases, cases are heard by three-judge panels. Occasionally, a case may be heard by the entire court.^[6]

Trial courts

Circuit courts

See also: Maryland Circuit Courts

The Maryland Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases, including juvenile and other family law cases such as divorce, custody, and child support. Circuit courts also hear cases concerning domestic violence. The circuit courts are where jury trials are held, though cases may be decided by bench trial. These courts hear appeals from the district courts, orphan's court, and some administrative agencies.^[8]

The circuit courts are divided into eight circuits with one court in each of Maryland's 23 counties, and one in Baltimore City.^[8]

The map below shows each of those circuits by county.

Maryland Circuit Court

District courts

See also: Maryland District Courts

The Maryland District Court has jurisdiction over all landlord-tenant cases, replevin actions (to seek the return of property), motor vehicle violations, misdemeanors, and certain felonies. In civil cases, the court has exclusive jurisdiction in claims of $5,000 or less, and concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts in claims for amounts totaling more than $5,000 but less than $30,000. In criminal cases, the court has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts when the penalty may be confinement for 3 years or more, or a fine of $2,500 or more, and certain felony offenses. The district court does not conduct jury trials.^[9][10][11]

The District Court is headquartered in Annapolis. The court has 33 locations in 12 districts. Judges are selected by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate.^[10]

Maryland Orphans' Court

See also: Maryland Orphans' Court

The Maryland Orphans' Court handles probate matters, all matters involving decedents' estates, and cases involving the guardianships of minors and their property.^[12]

Three Orphans’ Court judges sit in the City of Baltimore and each of Maryland’s counties, except Harford, Montgomery, and Howard counties. In those three counties, circuit court judges sit as Orphans’ Court judges. Orphans’ Court judges run for election every four years.^[12]

Office of Administrative Hearings

Created in 1990, the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) hears appeals of administrative agency decisions. As of April 2023, there are approximately 60 Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) with the OAH.^[13][14]

In other states

See also

Maryland	Judicial Selection	More Courts
Courts in Maryland Maryland Supreme Court Maryland Court of Appeals	Elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Maryland	Federal courts State courts Local courts

• Maryland judicial elections

External links

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• Maryland Courts

Footnotes

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