Find Court Records Instantly! Click Here!

Maryland’s court system, unlike most states, does not have a court dubbed “supreme.” Rather, Maryland’s court cases run through circuit and district courts, with appeals heard in two different venues, the Court of Appeals, which is the highest court in the state, or, in certain cases, the Court of Special Appeals.

Maryland's Court of Appeals

Maryland’s Court of Appeals was created by the state’s Constitution of 1776. It is the highest tribunal in the state, and has resided in Annapolis since 1851.

The court is composed of seven judges, including Chief Judge Robert M. Bell. Until 1994, there was one judge from each of the first five Appellate Judicial Circuits and two from the Sixth Appellate Judicial Circuit, which is Baltimore city. But a constitutional amendment realigned the system to create seven circuits each with one representative judge on the Court of Appeals. Judges are initially appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. They run in elections to retain office, unopposed. Should voters reject a judge on election day, the office is vacated and filled by a new appointment.

Since 1975, the Court of Appeals has heard cases almost exclusively by way of certiorari, a discretionary review process allowing the court to decide which cases it will hear and rejecting other cases on appeal. That helps the court reduce its caseload and devote more time to the cases the judges do agree to review.

Extensive online resources exist for those taking cases to, or observing, Maryland’s Court of Appeals. The court’s schedule is accessible, and oral arguments can be heard via Webcast. Both the reported opinions and unreported opinions of the court also are accessible.

Maryland's Court of Special Appeals

Maryland’s intermediate appellate court is the Court of Special Appeals. It was created in 1966 in response to the burgeoning caseload of the Court of Appeals. Special appeals court judges originally could hear only criminal cases, but its jurisdiction has been expanded to include any reviewable judgment, degree, order or other action of the circuit and orphans’ courts, unless otherwise stipulated by law.

Judges sitting on the Court of Special Appeals generally hear and decide cases in panels of three. In some cases, however, all 13 judges might listen to arguments for a case in what is called an “en banc” hearing.

The present chief judge is Joseph F. Murphy Jr.

Online resources for the Court of Special Appeals include the court’s schedule, fee schedule, detailed reported opinions and a list of unreported opinions.

Maryland's Circuit Court

Maryland’s Circuit Court system handles most of the state’s more serious criminal offenses, major civil cases, juvenile cases and other family law matters such as divorce, custody and child support. These courts also hear most cases appealed from the District Court level, the Orphans’ Court, and certain administrative agencies.

Circuit courts are located in all 23 counties and in Baltimore city. Each circuit has its own administrative judge. There also is an administrative judge in each county. The state maintains a list of all current circuit court judges online.

The circuit courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. Unlike the lower District Court, which operates as a unified system, the circuit courts historically have had greater autonomy and are funded by the county or city.

Online resources include court locations and contact information, links to necessary forms, a fee schedule, information for jurors, information and aid for families in court, and a court records search.

Maryland's District Courts

In most cases, if a Marylander finds himself in court, it will be in District Court. These are the most prevalent courts in the state, with 34 locations in 12 districts statewide.

Each court has at least one judge presiding over each county and the city of Baltimore. There are no juries; all cases are heard and decided by a judge.

District Court hears both civil and criminal cases involving claims up to $25,000, and has exclusive jurisdiction over peace order cases, landlord/tenant disputes, “replevin” (recovery of goods claimed to be wrongfully taken or detained) and other civil cases involving less than $5,000. The district courts also handle motor vehicle and boating violations and other misdemeanors and limited felonies, although the circuit courts share jurisdiction if the penalties authorized are three years or more in prison, a fine of $2,500 or more, or both.

Both trial courts – district and circuit – can hear domestic violence cases.

Online resources for District Court include brochures on various court topics, court fees and costs, and an index to court forms.

Maryland's Orphans’ Court

The Maryland Orphans’ Court handles wills, estates and other probate matters. They also have jurisdiction, along with the circuit courts, to appoint guardians of the persons and protect the estates of minors who have not been emancipated; in other words, children who are still subject to parental authority.

An appeal from an Orphans’ Court generally may be to Circuit Court, where the matter is tried do novo, or “as new,” before a judge or a jury. Appeals can also be directed, however, to the Court of Special Appeals, where the matter is heard “as is,” or, based on the record that is already established.

The Orphans’ Court Web site includes a list of judges serving in the court, and it also links to the state of Maryland Register of Wills.

Circuit Courts

Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County

Court of Appeals

Court of Special Appeals

District Courts

Judicial Branch

Maryland Judiciary Home Page

United States District Court of Maryland

United States Bankruptcy Court - District of Maryland

Maryland Court Information - Media Resources, Educational Outreach Information and General Court Information.

Maryland Client Protection Fund of the Bar - Search attorneys by first and last name.

Maryland Appellate Court Opinions in PDF - Search opinions in PDF format.

Maryland State Law Library - Search the online catalog

Maryland Courts - Court Service Database and Information on each service.

Maryland Judiciary - Information for citizens, jurors and employers.

The Maryland Electronic Capital - Experience Maryland Online with information on all areas of the state and government.

Maryland Judiciary - Committee on Access to Court Records