Robert H. Heller, Jr. Anne Arundel, 2001
Raymond J. Kane, Jr. Howard, 1997
Eugene M. Lemer Anne Arundel, 1995
J. Thomas Nissel Howard, 1997
Bruce C. Williams Anne Arundel, 1991
Martin A. Wolff Anne Arundel, 1995

6TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

Frederick and Montgomery counties—16 Judges

John J. Mitchell, Chief Judge and Circuit
Administrative Judge Montgomery, 1989
DeLawrence Beard Montgomery, 2001
William M. Cave Montgomery, 1995
G. Edward Dwyer, Jr. Frederick, 2001
Stanley B. Frosh Montgomery, 1991
Richard B. Latham Montgomery, 1991
James S. McAuliffe, Jr. Montgomery, 1997
J. James McKenna Montgomery, 2001
Peter J. Messitte Montgomery, 2001
William C. Miller Montgomery, 1997
Irma S. Raker Montgomery, 1997
L. Leonard Ruben Montgomery, 1999
Calvin R. Sanders Montgomery, 1994
Clater W. Smith, Jr. Frederick, 2001
Mary Ann Stepler Frederick, 1988
Paul H. Weinstein Montgomery, 1988

7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, and St. Mary's
counties —20 Judges

Ernest A. Loveless, Jr., Chief Judge and Circuit
Administrative Judge Prince George's, 1993
Arthur M. Ahalt Prince George's, 1999
Albert T. Blackwell, Jr. Prince George's, 1991
Perry G. Bowen, Jr. Calvert, 1997
George W. Bowling Charles, 1991
John H. Briscoe St. Mary's, 1988
Joseph S. Casula Prince George's, 2001
Howard S. Chasanow Prince George's, 1993
Richard J. Clark Charles, 1995
Vincent J. Femia Prince George's, 1993
G. R. Hovey Johnson Prince George's, 1999
Jacob S. Levin Prince George's, 1991
Robert H. Mason Prince George's, 1993
William H. McCullough Prince George's, 2001
Audrey E. Melbourne Prince George's, 1995
Dariene G. Perry Prince George's, 2001
James M. Rea Prince George's, 1994
David Gray Ross Prince George's, 1995
James H. Taylor Prince George's, 2001
Robert J. Woods Prince George's, 1993

8TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

Baltimore City—23 Judges

Robert I. H. Hammerman, Chief Judge 1999
Joseph H. H. Kaplan, Circuit Administrative
Judge 1993
Edward J. Angeletti 1999
Mary Arabian 1990
Elsbeth Levy Bothe 1995
John Can-oil Bymes 1997
Hilary D. Caplan 2001
Arrie W. Davis 1999
Kathleen O'Ferrall Friedman 2001
Clifton J. Gordy, Jr. 2001
Martin B. Greenfeld 1991
Ellen M. Heller 1988
Mabel H. Hubbard 2001
Kenneth L. Johnson 1997
Marshall A. Levin 1987
David B. Mitchell 2001
Thomas E. Noel 1999
Joseph I. Pines 1992
John N. Prevas 1988
David Ross 2001
Edgar P. Silver 1993
Marvin B. Steinberg 2001
Thomas Ward 1997

The Circuit Courts are the highest common law
and equity courts of record exercising original ju-
risdiction within the State. Each has full common
law and equity powers and jurisdiction in all civil
and criminal cases within its county, and all the
additional powers and jurisdiction conferred by
the Constitution and by law, except where by law
jurisdiction has been limited or conferred exclu-
sively upon another tribunal (Code Courts and Ju-
dicial Proceedings Article, sec. 1-501).

In each county of the State, there is a circuit
court, which is a trial court of general jurisdic-
tion. Its jurisdiction is very broad, but generally it
handles the major civil cases and the more serious
criminal matters. Circuit courts may also decide
appeals from the district court and from certain
administrative agencies.

These courts are grouped into eight geographi-
cal circuits. Each of the first seven circuits con-
tains two or more counties. The Eighth Judicial
Circuit consists of Baltimore City.

Presently, there are 109 Circuit Court judges,
with at least one judge for each county. Unlike
the other three levels of courts in Maryland, there
is no chief judge for the Circuit Court. Instead,
eight circuit administrative judges are appointed
by the chief judge of the Court of Appeals. They