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County Government/539
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
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 become synonymous with all
county government until the mid-twentieth century. Today, with a board of county commissioners serv-
ing executive and legislative functions, eleven counties continue this form: Calvert, 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), Harfbrd (1972), and Talbot (1973). In these counties
special departments, agencies, and officers perform functions formerly exercised by the boards of county
commissioners. Four counties—Kent (1970), Allegany (1974), Worcester (1976), and Caroline
(1984)—adopted optional powers of home rule as provided by the Constitution (Art. XIF) and the An-
notated Code of Maryland (Art. 25B). (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 func-
tion 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.)
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JUDICIAL OFFICERS
Circuit Court Resident Judge: Elected by the vot-
ers of the First, Second, and Eighth Judicial Cir-
cuits and in other circuits by the voters of the
county for a fifteen-year term (Const. 1867, Art.
IV, sees. 19-26; Code Courts and Judicial Pro-
ceedings Article, sees. 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 Ar-
ticle, sees. 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 at
age seventy. The District Court system replaced
the previously existing justices of the peace, coun-
ty trial magistrates, people's courts, the Municipal
Court of Baltimore City, and other courts of lim-
ited jurisdiction (Const. 1867, Art. IV, sec. 41-D;
Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article,
sees. 1-601 through 1-605).
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District Court Administrative Clerk: Appointed by
the chief judge of the District Court upon recom-
mendation of the administrative judge of the Dis-
trict (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 recommen-
dation 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 Harfbrd Coun-
ties where Circuit Court judges administer pro-
bate. The Governor designates the chief judge
(Const. 1867, Art. IV, sees. 20, 40; Code Estates
and Trusts Article, sees. 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, sees.
2-201 through 2-211).
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