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Maryland First Circuit

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The Maryland 1st Circuit Court resides in Maryland. Click on the links below to learn more about the court's...

Jurisdiction

This court holds the following jurisdiction:[1]

The circuit courts for Maryland, located in all 23 counties and Baltimore City, are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. Circuit courts generally handle the state’s major civil cases and more serious criminal matters, along with juvenile cases, family matters, such as divorce, and most appeals from the District Court, orphans’ courts and administrative agencies. The circuit courts also can hear, under certain circumstances, civil or criminal cases from the District Court, in which one of the parties has requested a jury trial; cases are ordinarily tried in the District Court if the penalty is three or more years in prison, a fine of $2,500 or more, or both; and domestic violence cases.[2]

Selection method

See also: Assisted appointment

The 152 judges of the eight Maryland circuits are chosen by the governor with help from a nominating commission. The judges of this court do not need to be confirmed by the Maryland State Senate.[3][4]

Circuit judges serve for one year, after which they must run in nonpartisan elections if they wish to continue serving.[5] If re-elected, they serve for 15 years.[3][4]

The chief judge of each circuit court is chosen by seniority.[3]

Qualifications
To join either of these courts, a judge must be:[3]

  • a U.S. and state citizen;
  • a registered state voter;
  • a state resident for at least five years;
  • a circuit resident for at least six months;
  • a state bar member;
  • at least 30 years old; and
  • under the age of 70 (retirement at 70 is mandatory).

See also



External links

Footnotes