Marvin Mandel, Governor                         1259

competency to stand trial of any person charged with the commission
of any crime within the jurisdiction of the Court.

(10)    Sentencing. Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, every District Court judge shall have the power in those cases
described in paragraphs (b) (1) and (b) (2) of this Section 144 to
sentence any defendant to confinement for the period or periods of
time prescribed by law or by the statute or ordinance creating the
offense, and to impose any fine authorized by law or by said statute
or ordinance.

(c) Civil Jurisdiction.

(1)     General Jurisidiction. The District Court shall have juris-
diction at law in all cases for the enforcement of contracts and to
obtain redress for wrongs where the debt or damages claimed do
not exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00); in actions of replevin
where the value of the thing in controversy does not exceed Five
Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00); in all cases of attachment on original
process where the sum claimed does not exceed Five Thousand
Dollars ($5,000.00); in all other civil action over which the People's
Court of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel, Prince
George's, Montgomery or Wicomico County had jurisdiction prior to
the effective date of this section in each such county, and where the
amount in controversy does not exceed Five Thousand Dollars
($5,000.00); and in all actions involving landlord and tenant, dis-
traint, forcible entry and detainer and grantee suits regardless of the
amount involved.

(2)    Concurrent and Exclusive Jurisdiction. In all those civil
actions listed in paragraph 1 hereof, the District Court shall have
exclusive original jurisdiction where the amount in controversy does
not exceed Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00); pro-
vided that the court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in
actions involving landlord and tenant, distraint, forcible entry and
detainer and grantee suits regardless of the amount involved. Juris-
diction shall be concurrent with the Circuit Court in all cases where
the amount in controversy exceeds Two Thousand Five Hundred
Dollars ($2,500.00), but does not exceed Five Thousand Dollars
($5,000.00).

(3) Venue. (i) The venue provisions of Article 75, Section 75 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland, 1957 Edition, as amended, shall
apply to all civil actions in the District Court.

(ii)    In all civil actions where the amount in controversy exceeds
Five Dollars ($5.00) FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00),
either party shall have a right at any time to demand a trial by
jury in which event the case shall be transmitted forthwith to
the Circuit, Court in the County in which the cause of action arose
or was filed, or to the Superior Court of Baltimore City if the cause
of action arose or was filed in the City of Baltimore.

(4) Prohibited Jurisdiction. The District Court shall have no
equity jurisdiction, nor shall it have jurisdiction to try title to real
property.

(5) Pleadings. In all civil actions in which the amount in con-
troversy is Twenty-five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) ONE THOU-