District Court, Circuit Courts, the Court of Special
Appeals, and the Court of Appeals.

The District Court of Maryland, created in 1971
on a statewide basis in each county and Baltimore
City, is a court of limited jurisdiction that replaced
the earlier local justices of the peace and county trial
magistrates. District Courts have jurisdiction in
minor civil and criminal matters and in virtually all
violations of the Motor Vehicle Law. District Court
judges are appointed by the governor for ten-year
terms.

The Circuit Courts have original jurisdiction
over more serious criminal and civil cases and also
hear appeals from decisions in the District Court.
Circuit Court judges are nominated by special judi-
cial selection commissions and appointed by the
governor with Senate consent. At the first statewide
election occurring at least one year after their ap-
pointment, Circuit Court judges must successfully
stand for election to continue in office for a term of
fifteen years.

The Court of Special Appeals is the second
highest court in Maryland. Like the State's highest
court, the Court of Special Appeals is an appellate
court. It was established in 1966 to ease the
caseload of the Court of Appeals and to facilitate
resolution of cases requiring appellate adjudication.
Composed of thirteen judges, members of the
Court of Special Appeals are appointed by the
governor with Senate consent for ten-year terms,
subject to approval of the voters at the next election
after their appointment. The Court of Special Ap-
peals has exclusive initial appellate jurisdiction over
any reviewable judgment, decree, order, or other
action of a circuit court, except for appeals in crim-
inal cases in which the death penalty is imposed.

The Court of Appeals has a long history in
Maryland, dating from the seventeenth century and
reformed by the first State constitution of 1776.
The Court of Appeals is the State's highest court,
and reviews cases of major importance where the

Maryland Government/7

decisions rendered are based on constitutional in-
terpretation of the law. The seven judges of the
Court of Appeals, appointed by the governor with
Senate consent, serve ten-year terms. Like judges
of the Court of Special Appeals, judges of the Court
of Appeals must win approval of the electorate at
the first election occurring at least one year after
their appointment.

\forious units, boards, and commissions exist
within the judiciary to facilitate the judicial process
and assist judges of the different courts. The Judicial
Nominating Commissions, for example, present
names to the governor when vacancies occur on any
of the appellate or circuit courts. The State Law
Library is the principal law reference library in the
State. Also within the Judiciary Department are the
State Board of Law Examiners, which conducts
examinations for prospective members of the State
Bar, and the Attorney Grievance Commission,
charged with supervising and administering the
discipline of attorneys.

The three branches of State government—the
executive, legislative, and judicial—act to preserve,
protect, and extend the privileges and obligations
provided to the citizens of Maryland by the State
Constitution. All three branches represent the in-
terests of the citizens of the State in their relations
with other states and the federal government, and
each works closely with and supplements the ser-
vices of municipal and county administrations. The
checks and balances provided by the Constitution
of Maryland ensure a certain beneficial degree of
tension and proprietorship among the three
branches of State government, and each carefully
guards its prerogatives. The fundamental goal of
State government as a whole, however, is to serve
the public interest. The citizens themselves ulti-
mately determine, through periodic elections, refer-
enda, and amendments to the Constitution itself,
the policies, functions, and extent of the govern-
ment of the State of Maryland.