term. Judges must meet the same qualifica-
tions set out in the Constitution for judges
of the appellate courts and courts of general
jurisdiction. They must devote their full time
to their judicial duties, and they are strictly
prohibited from engaging, in any way, in
the practice of law.
Within the District Court system there is
a Chief Clerk appointed by the Chief Judge.
The Chief Judge also designates from among
the judges an Administrative Judge for each
district. Each district also has an adminis-
trative clerk. In addition, a District Court
("Clerk for each county within a district and
all other necessary court employees have
also been chosen. Further, commissioners
will be appointed by the administrative
judge of the district with the approval of
the Chief Judge to function in each county
and in Baltimore City as may be needed.
The commissioners will perform functions
similar to the old Committing Magistrates
with respect to issuance of arrest warrants,
setting bail or collateral, or other terms of
pre-trial release, pending a hearing or in-
carceration prior to hearing.
The District Court has jurisdiction in
criminal, traffic, and civil matters. It has
no equity jurisdiction and has juvenile juris-
diction in Montgomery County only. In
criminal cases the court may conduct pre-
liminary hearings in felony cases; it has
general jurisdiction over misdemeanors,
whether common law, statutory, or estab-
lished by ordinance and over criminal viola-
tions of state and local regulations. In
addition, it has jurisdiction over certain
enumerated felonies if the amount or value
of the goods taken or obtained by the party
charged does not exceed $500. Its jurisdic-
tion is exclusive if the penalty may not
exceed confinement for one day less than
three years or a fine of $2,999, or both. If
the confinement is three years or more, or
the fine is $3,000 or above, the jurisdiction
is concurrent with the Circuit Court.
The traffic jurisdiction of the court ex-
tends to almost every violation of the Ve-
hicle Law, if the offense is not classified
as a felony.
In civil cases, the District Court has ex-
clusive jurisdiction if the amount claimed |
does not exceed $2,500 and in cases involv-
ing landlord and tenant, forcible entry and
detainer, and grantee suits regardless of
amount involved. Where the claim exceeds
$2,500 and up to a maximum of $5,000, it
has concurrent jurisdiction with the trial
courts of general jurisdiction. If the amount
in controversy in a civil suit is in excess of
$500 then either party has the right to de-
mand a jury trial in which event, upon
timely demand made, the case will be trans-
ferred from the District Court to a trial
court of general jurisdiction. In criminal
and traffic cases a right to trial by jury
exists if demanded prior to trial, if the pun-
ishment for the crime may exceed confine-
ment for a period of over three months. The
State may not demand a jury trial.
Appeals from decisions of the District
Court are taken to the Circuit Court in the
county in which the judgment was rendered.
In Baltimore City they are taken in criminal
and traffic cases to the Criminal Court of
Baltimore City and in civil cases to the
Baltimore City Court. In criminal and traffic
cases and in civil cases of less than $500
the appeal shall be tried de novo unless the
parties agree to an appeal on the record.
In civil cases involving claims of more than
$500 the appeal shall be on the record. The
time for noting an appeal in all cases must
be within thirty days from the date of judg-
ment in the District Court (Code 1957,
1973 Repl. Vol., Art. 26, sees. 139-157;
Courts Article, sees. 1-601 to 1-608, 2-601
to 2-607, 4-301 to 4-304, 4-401 to 4-530,
6-403, 7-301-7-302, 9-201, 11-402, 11-
701 to 11-703, 12-401).
THE STATE REPORTER
James H. Norris, Jr., The Reporter
Courts of Appeal Building,
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-3539
The State Reporter, appointed by the
Court of Appeals, is responsible for the
publication of the Maryland Reports and
the Maryland Appellate Reports, which con-
tain the official opinions of the Court of
Appeals (Const. 1867, Art. IV, sees. 14- |
