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Maryland Third Circuit

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Ballotpedia:Trial Courts
Maryland Third Circuit

The Maryland Third Judicial Circuit has jurisdiction over all civil, juvenile and criminal legal matters in the counties of Baltimore and Harford. The court hears all jury trials for both counties.[1][2]

Judges

Baltimore

Harford

Former judges

See also

External links


Maryland courts

Federal courts:

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Maryland • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Maryland

State courts:

Maryland Supreme Court • Appellate Court of Maryland • Maryland District Courts • Maryland Circuit Courts • Maryland Orphans' Court

State resources:

Courts in Maryland • Maryland judicial elections • Judicial selection in Maryland

Elections

See also: Maryland judicial elections

Maryland is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Maryland, click here.

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.[4][5]

Circuit judges serve for one year, after which they must run in nonpartisan elections if they wish to continue serving.[6] If re-elected, they serve for 15 years.[4][5]

The chief judge of each circuit court is chosen by seniority.[4]

Qualifications
To join either of these courts, a judge must be:[4]

  • 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).

Election rules

Primary election

Circuit and orphans' court judges compete in a partisan primary for the Republican and/or Democratic nomination. Candidates may cross-file with both parties. The candidates who receive the most votes from each primary advance to the general election to compete against each other, as well as any minor party or independent candidates.[7][8]

An example of the elections process for the circuit courts provided by the Maryland State Board of Elections:

“
  • In Circuit X, there are two incumbent judges who must stand for election. They are candidates A and B, a Democrat and Republican respectively. They both file Certificates of Candidacy to appear on both the Democratic and Republican Primary ballots. Candidate C, a Democrat and qualified member of the Bar also files a Certificate of Candidacy to appear on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots.
  • In the primary election, the Democratic Party selects candidates A and C (i.e. those two candidates received the most votes) and the Republican Party selects candidates A and B.
  • In the general election candidates A, B, and C all will appear on the ballot since they each won one or both of the primary elections in which they appeared on the ballot.
  • On the general election ballot, in addition to candidates A, B, and C, candidate D will also appear on the ballot. Candidate D is a member of the Green Party and a qualified member of the Bar and received the Green Party's nomination.
  • The two candidates who receive the most votes will be elected to office.

[9]

”
—Maryland State Board of Elections[8]

General election

Appellate judges stand for retention in the general election. Trial court judge candidates who advanced from the partisan primary run in the general election without party affiliation.[10]


Footnotes

  1. ↑ Baltimore County Maryland, "Circuit Court," accessed May 20, 2014
  2. ↑ Maryland Courts, "Directory of Appellate, Circuit, District & Orphan Courts," accessed May 22, 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Maryland Courts, "Judges Currently Serving in the State of Maryland," accessed May 22, 2014
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Maryland," archived October 27, 2010
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 American Judicature Society, "Judicial Selection in the States: Maryland; Overview," archived October 26, 2010
  6. ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Judicial Elections," accessed January 19, 2015
  7. ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Judicial Candidates," accessed April 7, 2014
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Maryland State Board of Elections, "2012 Elections - Circuit Court, Judicial Candidates," accessed June 17, 2014
  9. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  10. ↑ Maryland Election Law, "§ 9-210. Arrangement of ballots — Candidates and offices," accessed April 7, 2014
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