112                              Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 106

ment are conveniently available for such service. All magistrates in
office on January 1, 1960, shall continue in office, and be eligible for
reappointment.

100A.

(a)  For the purpose of hearing cases within the jurisdiction pro-
vided for in Section 6(k), the trial magistrates of Harford County
shall be and they are designated as the People's Court of Harford
County.

(b)   The People's Court of Harford County shall have concurrent
original jurisdiction at law in all civil cases arising in Harford
County, including all cases for the enforcement of contracts, to obtain
redress for wrongs, in actions of replevin and attachments as pro-
vided in Article 9 of this Code, where the debt or damages claimed
or the amount in controversy does not exceed the amount specified
in Section 6(k) of this Article, and cases between landlord and
tenant arising under Article 53 of this Code and all civil cases aris-
ing in Harford County over which justices of the peace or trial
magistrates had jurisdiction prior to January 1, 1960.

(c)  All trials of cases before the Court shall be conducted in such
manner as to do substantial justice between the parties according to
the rules of substantive law, the equity and right of the matter, and
without regard to technical rules of practice, procedure or pleading.

(d)  A majority of the magistrates of said Court, with the approval
of the Judge of the Circuit Court of Harford County resident therein,
is authorized to prescribe by general rules the practice and procedure
in said Court including, but not limited to, provision for registered
or certified mail service, return days, trial days, practice in suits
against nonresidents, attachments, replevins, joint tort-feasors, coun-
ter-claims, cross-claims, consolidations, continuances, depositions, dis-
missals, arbitrations, set-offs, appeal bonds, summary judgments,
judgments by default, judgments by confession, supplementary pro-
ceedings, new trial and such other matters not inconsistent with law.

(e)  Any statutory reference to trial magistrates shall be inter-
preted as meaning the magistrates of the People's Court of Harford
County, including laws controlling fees, costs, and appeals, but not
limited thereto. In lieu of the statutory schedule of fees the magis-
trates of the People's Court, with the approval of the Judge of the
Circuit Court resident in Harford County, may adopt a schedule of
fees and costs in all cases filed in said Court.

(f)   Clerical assistance shall be appointed by a majority of said
magistrates, subject to the approval of expenses and compensation
by the County Commissioners of Harford County. The dockets of the
People's Court shall be kept current and shall be public records.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
January 1, 1960.

Approved March 3, 1959.