How Do Maryland Circuit Courts Work?

Circuit Courts in Maryland are courts of general jurisdiction created to resolve all civil and criminal cases. In practice, all matters beyond the jurisdiction of other lesser courts are taken to the Circuit Courts. The State of Maryland is divided into eight judicial circuits, with a circuit court judge in each of the 34 counties.

Circuit Courts in Maryland also have exclusive jurisdiction over appeals from district courts and discretionary jurisdiction over appeals from Orphans Courts. Unlike district courts, circuit court trials may be heard by a judge or jury. Involved persons may appeal a circuit court judgment at any appellate court (Maryland Court of Special Appeals or Court of Appeals).

Being a court of general jurisdiction, a circuit court in Maryland can handle all civil cases above $5000 and serious criminal cases. These include felonies, misdemeanors, domestic violence, protective orders, and peace orders.

Divorce/Annulment, child custody, child custody/support, child protection, denial of custody rights, and most proceedings that require equal relief are brought before the circuit courts in Maryland. Some circuit courts located in populated cities may have Juvenile Court Division, Family Services Program, and Family Division.

Circuit court judges in Maryland are appointed through a process known as an assisted appointment. In this process, the Governor of Maryland appoints the circuit court judge based on recommendations from the Executive Committee of the Judicial Council. Afterward, the Senate will confirm the appointed judge provided that:

• The judge is a citizen of the state;
• The judge is a qualified voter in the state;
• The judge is a resident of the judicial circuit for at least five years before the appointment;
• The judge is more than 30 years at the time of appointment;
• The judge has been approved to practice law in the state.

A circuit court judge is appointed to serve for ten years. However, after the first year, the judge will have to contest in a retention election where qualified electors will determine if they are eligible to continue their duty or not.

According to the speedy trial law in Maryland, criminal cases brought before a circuit court should arrive at a judgment within 180 days from the date of arraignment. An alleged offender is required to appear in court not more than 24 hours after arrest. Civil cases heard at a circuit court take much longer to resolve due to disagreements between the plaintiff and defendant.

Case records are created by the circuit court and are open to the public. Requesters can obtain these records from the statewide case search repository managed by the Maryland judiciary. To look-up a case file, interested persons need to provide details such as case name, case number, court location, names of parties involved, and the type of case. The online repository may not contain all the information regarding a matter. As such, requesters should contact the court clerk in person or in writing (via mail) to obtain additional case information.

Also, individuals can gain access to Circuit Court judgment and Liens online. A judgment is made by a circuit court of law to mandate anyone to pay a specified sum of cash. A Lien is an additional burden on the land of one party to protect a debt owed by the party by the landowner to the claimant. Records found in this category are indexed documentation such as the plaintiff/respondent’s name, trial disposition, initial date, date of status, recorded date, etc.

According to the speedy trial law in Maryland, criminal cases brought before a circuit court should arrive judgment within 180 days from the date of arraignment. An alleged offender is required to appear in court no more than 24 hours after arrest. Civil cases heard at a circuit court take much longer to resolve, depending on the nature of the court case. Case records are created by the circuit court and are open to the public. Requesters can obtain these records from the statewide case search repository managed by the Maryland judiciary. To look-up a case file, interested persons need to provide details such as case name, case number, court location, names of parties involved, and the type of case. The online repository may not contain all the information regarding a matter. As such, requesters should contact the court clerk in person or in writing (via mail) to obtain additional case information.

Below are the addresses and contact details of each Circuit Court in Maryland:

Allegany County Circuit Court

Allegany County Courthouse

30 Washington Street

Cumberland, MD 21502

Phone: (301) 777–5923

Anne Arundel County Circuit Court

Anne Arundel County Circuit Courthouse

8 Church Circle

P. O. Box 71

Annapolis, MD 21404

Phone: (410) 222–1397

Baltimore County Circuit Court

Baltimore County Courts Building

401 Bosley Avenue

Towson, MD 21204

Phone: (410) 887–2601

Calvert County Circuit Court

Calvert County Courthouse

175 Main Street

Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Phone: (410) 535–1600

Caroline County Circuit Court

Caroline County Courthouse

109 Market Street

Denton, MD 21629

Phone: (410) 479–1811

Fax: (410) 479–1142

Carroll County Circuit Court

Carroll County Courthouse Annex

55 N Court Street

Westminster, MD 21157

Phone: (410) 386–8710

Fax: (410) 876–0822

Cecil County Circuit Court

Cecil County Circuit Courthouse

129 E Main Street

Elkton, MD 21921

Phone: (410) 996–3024

Charles County Circuit Court

Charles County Courthouse

200 Charles Street

La Plata, MD 20646

Phone: (301) 932–3201

Baltimore City Circuit Court - Civil Division

Courthouse East

111 N Calvert Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: (410) 333–3722

Baltimore City Circuit Court - Criminal Division

Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse

100 N Calvert Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: (410) 333–3750

Baltimore City Circuit Court - Family Division

Courthouse East

111 N Calvert Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: (410) 333–3709

Baltimore City Circuit Court - Juvenile Division

Juvenile Justice Center

300 N Gay Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: (443) 263–6359

Dorchester County Circuit Court

Dorchester County Courthouse

206 High Street

P. O. Box 150

Cambridge, MD 21613

Phone: (410) 228–0481

Frederick County Circuit Court

Frederick County Courthouse

100 W Patrick Street

Frederick, MD 21701

Phone: (301) 600–1976

Garrett County Circuit Court

Frederick A. Thayer Courthouse

203 S 4th Street

P. O. Box 447

Oakland, MD 21550

Phone: (301) 334–1943

Fax: (301) 334–5017

Harford County Circuit Court

Harford County Courthouse

20 W Courtland Street

Bel Air, MD 21014

Phone: (410) 838–4952

Howard County Circuit Court

Howard County Courthouse

8360 Court Avenue

Ellicott City, MD 21043

Phone: (410) 313–2111

Kent County Circuit Court

Kent County Courthouse

103 N Cross Street

Chestertown, MD 21620

Phone: (410) 778–7460

Montgomery County Circuit Court

Circuit Court Building

50 Maryland Avenue

Rockville, MD 20850

Phone: (240) 777–9400

Montgomery County Circuit Court - Juvenile Department

Circuit Court Building

50 Maryland Avenue

Rockville, MD 20850

Phone: (240) 777–9530

Prince George’s County Circuit Court

Prince George’s County Courthouse

14735 Main Street

Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Phone: (301) 952–3318

Fax: (301) 952–3768

Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court

Queen Anne’s County Courthouse

100 Court House Square

Centreville, MD 21617

Phone: (410) 758–1773

Somerset County Circuit Court

Somerset County Courthouse

30512 Prince William Street

Princess Anne, MD 21853

Phone: (410) 845–4840

Fax: (410) 845–4841

Saint Mary’s County Circuit Court

Saint Mary’s County Courthouse

41605 Courthouse Drive

P. O. Box 859,

Leonardtown, MD 20650

Phone: (301) 475–4200

Talbot County Circuit Court

Talbot County Courthouse

11 N Washington Street

Easton, MD 21601

Phone: (410) 822–2611

Fax: (410) 820–8168

Washington County Circuit Court

Washington County Courthouse

24 Summit Avenue

Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: (301) 733–8660

Fax: (301) 791–1151

Wicomico County Circuit Court

Wicomico County Courthouse

101 N Division Street

Salisbury, MD 21801

Phone: (410) 543–6551

Worcester County Circuit Court

Worcester County Courthouse

1 W Market Street

Snow Hill, MD 21863

Phone: (410) 632–5500