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644 /District Court of Maryland. Maryland Manual 1994-1995
ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS
The District Court of Maryland was created by constitutional amendment ratified in 1970 (Chapter
789, Acts of 1969; Const., Art. IV, secs. 41A through 41-1). The Court began operating in July 1971 as
a court of record. With statewide jurisdiction, the Court functions in every county and Baltimore City. It
replaced the theretofore existing justices of the peace, the county trial magistrates, the People's Courts in
certain counties, the People's Court of Baltimore City, and the Municipal Court of Baltimore City.
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 the District Court provides no juries,
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, sees. 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.
District 1: Baltimore City.
District 2: Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties.
District 3: Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties.
District 4: Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties.
District 5: Prince George's County.
District 6: Montgomery County.
District 7: Anne Arundel County.
District 8: Baltimore County.
District 9: Harford County.
District 10: Carroll and Howard counties
District 11: Frederick and Washington counties.
District 12: Allegany and Garrett counties.
The District Court of Maryland is administered centrally and is funded fully by the State. Presently,
there are 97 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.
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ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES
COMMITTEE
Chairperson: Robert F. Sweeney, Chief Judge,
District Court of Maryland
(410) 974-2412
The Administrative Judges Committee of the
District Court of Maryland was formed by the Chief
Judge of the District Court of Maryland when the
Court began in 1971. At that time, the Committee
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included the Chief Judge, as chairperson, and the
twelve district administrative judges. In 1978, the
Chief Judge extended membership to add five trial
judges of the District Court elected at large bien-
nually by written ballot of the administrative and
trial judges of the District Court.
Meeting quarterly, the Committee considers
matters that affect the administration, operation,
and maintenance of the District Court of Mary-
land.
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