Judiciary/S19

DISTRICT COURT OF MARYLAND

Robert F. Sweeney Chief Judge, 1991

Courts of Appeal Building

Annapolis, MD 21401                                                                                                  974-2412

Margaret E Kostritsky, Chief Clerk

District Court Building

Rowe Blvd. and Taylor Ave.

Annapolis, MD 21401                                                                                                  974-3486

The District Court of Maryland was created by constitutional amendment ratified in 1970 (Chapter
789, Acts of 1969; Const., Art. iy secs. 41A through 41-1). The Court began operating in July 1971. It
replaced a miscellaneous system of trial magistrates, and people's and municipal courts. It is a court of
record and has statewide jurisdiction.

The District Court has jurisdiction in both criminal (including motor vehicle) and civil areas. It has
little equity jurisdiction and has jurisdiction over juvenile cases only in Montgomery County The exclusive
jurisdiction of the District Court generally includes all landlord/tenant cases; replevin actions; motor
vehicle violations; criminal cases if the penalty is less than three years imprisonment or does not exceed a
fine of $2,500, or both; and civil cases involving amounts not exceeding $2,500. It has concurrent
jurisdiction with the circuit courts in civil cases over $2,500 (but not exceeding $10,000) and concurrent
jurisdiction in misdemeanors and certain enumerated felonies. Since there are no juries provided in the
District Court, a person entitled to and electing a jury trial must proceed to the circuit court (Code 1957,
Art. 27, secs. 586, 594D, 616 1/2, 643A; Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, secs. 1-601
through 1-608, 2-601 through 2-607, 4-101 through 4-405, 6-403, 7-301, 7-302, 9-201, 11-402,
11-701 through 11-703,12-401 through 12-404; Code Family Law Article, secs. 4-501 through 4-510).

The District Court is divided into twelve geographical districts, each containing one or more political
subdivisions, with at least one judge in each subdivision. Presently, there are 95 judges on the Court,
including the Chief Judge.

The Chief Judge is the administrative head of the Court and appoints administrative judges for each
of the twelve districts, subject to the approval of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. A chief clerk of
the Court is appointed by the Chief Judge as are administrative clerks for each district, and district
commissioners who issue arrest warrants and set bail or collateral.

District Court judges are appointed by the Governor to ten-year terms, subject to Senate confirmation.
They do not stand for election. The Chief Judge is appointed by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.

DISTRICT 1 Baltimore City—23 Judges Joseph A. Ciotola, Sr., Administrative Judge 1996 Carl W Bacharach.........................................1998 H. Gary Bass.................................................1993 Charlotte M. Cooksey...................................1993 Andre M. Davis.............................................1997 Sol J. Friedman..............................................1993 Askew W Gatewood, Jr.................................1994 Robert J. Gerstung........................................1991 George J. Helinski.........................................1992 Alan J. Karlin.................................................1995 Martin A. Kircher..........................................1993 Alan B. Lipson..............................................1991

Keith E. Mathews..........................................1993 Joseph E McCurdy, Jr....................................1997 Richard O. Motsay........................................1998 Theodore B. Oshrine.....................................1995 AlanM. Resnick............................................1994 Mary Ellen T. Rinehardt................................1992 Carol E. Smith...............................................1995 Paul A. Smith................................................1993 Kathleen M. Sweeney....................................1999 Blanche G. Wahl............................................1997 David W Young.............................................1995