|
County Government/491
COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN MARYLAND
The county court served as the administrative unit of county government from the formation of the first
colonial Maryland counties until 1798, when the levy court assumed its functions. By 1827, boards of
county commissioners began to replace the levy courts. These boards became synonymous with all county
government until the mid-twentieth century. Today, with a board of county commissioners serving
executive and legislative functions, twelve counties continue this form: Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil,
Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, and Washington.
Since 1948, the citizens of several counties have used alternative modes of government. Eight counties
adopted charter governments: Montgomery (1948), Baltimore (1956), Anne Arundel and Wicomico
(1964), Howard (1968), Prince George's (1970), Harford (1972), and Talbot (1973). In these counties
special departments, agencies, and officers perform functions formerly exercised by the boards of county
commissioners. Three counties—Kent (1970), Allegany (1974), and Worcester (1976)—adopted optional
powers of home rule as provided by Article XIF of the Constitution and Article 25B of the Annotated
Code of Maryland. For provisions relating to the counties that do not fall into these categories, see Article
25 of the Code. Regardless of the form of government, however, most traditional offices remain, and
although many of them are not regulated by charter they work side by side with the new departments
(Const. 1867, Art. XI-A; Code 1957, Art. 25A). For this reason officers, boards, and commissions of all
counties, regardless of the type of county government, are listed according to function rather than
according to the legal or administrative relationships their charters have created.
Baltimore City became a governmental unit, separate from Baltimore County, with the ratification of
the State Constitution of 1851. While its original incorporation dates from 1796, the City operates under
its current charter of 1964. For State provisions for Baltimore City government see Article XI of the
Constitution, as well as the Annotated Code of Maryland.
|
JUDICIAL OFFICERS
Circuit Court Resident Judge: Elected by the voters
of the First, Second, and Eighth Judicial Circuits
and in other circuits by the voters of the county for
a fifteen-year term (Const. 1867, Art. IV, secs.
19-26; Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Article, secs. 1-501 through 1-503).
Circuit Court Clerk: Elected by the voters of the
county for a four-year term (Const. 1867, Art. IV,
sec. 25; Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Article, secs. 2-201 through 2-206).
District Court Judge: Appointed by the Governor
with the advice and consent of the Senate for a ten-
year term or until mandatory retirement is reached
at the age of seventy. The District Court system
replaced the previously existing justices of the
peace, county trial magistrates, people's courts, the
Municipal Court of Baltimore City, and other
courts of limited jurisdiction (Const. 1867, Art.
IV, sec. 41-D; Code Courts and Judicial Proceed-
ings Article, secs. 1-601 through 1-605).
District Court Administrative Clerk: Appointed by
the chief judge of the District Court upon the
recommendation of the administrative judge of the
District (Const. 1867, Art. IV, sec. 41-F; Code
Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, sec.
2-602).
|
District Court County Clerk: Appointed by the
chief judge of the District Court upon the recom-
mendation of the administrative judge of the
District (Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Article, sec. 2-601).
Orphans' Court Judge: Elected by the voters of
Baltimore City and each county for a four-year
term, except in Montgomery and Harford counties
where the Circuit Court judges perform that
function. The Governor designates the chief judge
(Const. 1867, Art. IV, secs. 20, 40; Code Estates
and Trusts Article, secs. 2-101 through 2-109).
Register of Wills: Elected by the voters of the
county for a four-year term (Const. 1867, Art. IV,
sec. 41; Code Estates and Trusts Article, secs.
2-201 through 2-211).
Sheriff: Elected by the voters of the county for a
four-year term (Const. 1867, Art. IV, sec. 44; Code
1957, Art. 87; Code Courts and Judicial Proceed-
ings Article, secs. 2-301 through 2-309).
State's Attorney: Elected by the voters of the
county for a four-year term (Const. 1867, Art. V,
secs, 7-12).
District Public Defender: Appointed by the Public
Defender with the approval of the Board of
|
|
 |
