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