The Circuit Courts of Maryland is the county court of general jurisdiction in Maryland. They are the highest courts in Maryland that exercise genuine jurisdiction in law and equality in all civil and criminal matters, and possess additional powers and jurisdictions as granted by the Maryland Constitution of 1867 as amended, or by law. The Circuit Court also presided over divorce and most of the family law affairs. The matter of probate and inheritance is handled by a separate Orphans Court. The Circuit Court is the only Maryland state court empowered to conduct a jury trial.
Video Maryland Circuit Courts
Organization
Each of the 23 Maryland counties and the independent city of Baltimore has its own Circuit Court. The number of judges in each Circuit Court is determined by law. The Circuit Court is categorized into eight courts of justice. Each circuit includes two or more districts, except for the Eighth Circuit, which consists only of the City of Baltimore. The most senior judges on the circuit are the Chief Judge; all other judges are Judges of the Association.
The state is divided into eight judicial circuits, which are currently as follows:
- First Judicial Assembly (7 judges): Dorchester (1 judge), Somerset (1 judge), Wicomico (3 judges) & amp; Worcester (2 judges) district
- 2nd Judicial Circuit (7 judges): Caroline (1 judge), Cecil (3 judges), Kent (1 judge), Queen Anne (1 judge) & amp; Talbot (1 judge) district
- The 3rd Judicial Circuit (21 judges): Baltimore County (16 judges) & amp; Harford County (5 judges)
- The 4th Judicial Circuit (7 judges): Allegany (2 judges), Garrett (1 judge) & amp; Washington (4 judges) district
- 5 Judicial Circuit (18 judges): Anne Arundel (10 judges), Carroll (3 judges) & amp; Howard (5 juries) district
- 6 Judicial Circuit (24 judges): Frederick (4 judges) & amp; Montgomery (20 judges) district
- 7 Judicial Circuit (32 judges): Calvert (3 judges), Charles (4 judges), Prince George (23 judges) & amp; St. Mary's (3 judges) district
- 8 Judicial Circuit (30 judges): Baltimore City
The Maryland Circuit Court Judge was elected for a 15-year term in elections. Their salary may not decrease in the office. The Governor may fill vacancies with appointments until the next general election to the United States House of Representatives which takes place after one year from the time the vacancy is created, except in the case where vacancy is with the expiry of the term, in this case, the vacancy is filled until the next general election to US Representative (congressman).
Judges must be at least 30 years of age, eligible voters, Maryland bar members, and Maryland residents for at least five years and for at least 6 months from the places in which they are elected to serve. The judge should retire at age 70. The Maryland Court of Justice's Chancellor (the highest court in the state and the highest court of Maryland) can assign former judges to temporary seats in Maryland courts, if approved by the circuit administrative magistrate in question.
Each Circuit Court also has its own Clerk, elected by a citizen (or Baltimore City) for a term of four years.
Maps Maryland Circuit Courts
Jurisdiction
In civil matters, the Circuit Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in many cases where equity, declarative or indemnity is requested, or where the ownership of the real property will be determined. Two notable exceptions are: (1) the act of replevin, in which the District Court has original exclusive jurisdiction irrespective of the value of things in the controversy; and (2) land tenant-ownership issues, where the District Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases.
In the case of a lawsuit or contract for money compensation in which the amount in the controversy exceeds $ 30,000, the Circuit Court has exclusive original jurisdiction. The Circuit Court shares concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court in cases where the amount of controversy exceeds $ 5,000 but less than $ 30,000. However, if the amount in the controversy exceeds $ 15,000, either party may remove the action filed in the District Courts to the Circuit Court by prosecuting the jury. The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction in the case of a contract and a lawsuit for damages of money in which the amount of controversy is less than $ 5,000.
In criminal cases, the Circuit Court generally has exclusive original jurisdiction over crime (with many exceptions). They share genuine jurisdiction together in cases of minor offenses in which the sentence may be confined for three years or more or a fine of $ 2,500 or more, and in certain criminal cases. A criminal defendant may transfer the case to the Circuit Court by prosecuting the jury in any case in which the defendant is entitled to do so.
Dockets
With the rules, each Circuit Court is required to have a different case management plan "for the scheduling and disposition of rapid and efficient measures. ["] The plan varies according to jurisdiction, but incorporates classification of cases based on complexity and priority, to be assigned to certain scheduling " tracks "based on that classification. Consistent with applicable court rules, the Circuit Court has been working hard to make different case management plans where possible; in practice, however, the plan is somewhat different among the Circuit Court.
An important aspect of the differentiated Maryland case management system is the introduction of the Business and Technology Case Management Program - the first of its kind in the United States - for civil cases involving complex business or technological issues. The program includes "paths" specific to business and technology cases in a differentiated Maryland case management system; procedures for submitting such cases to the program, including the special assignment of such cases to judges who are specially trained in issues of business and technology; and alternative dispute resolution processes by mediators who are specially trained in business and technology issues. Such cases may be incorporated into the program with the plaintiff's request at the time of filing the case; at the subsequent request by either party; or by court order.
Maryland also allows parties in civil cases to request the assignment of their case to the Complex Science or Medical Case Management Program, which, if awarded, results in cases assigned to judges who have received training from the Science and Technology Resources of Advanced Teaching Center, Inc. (ASTAR).
References
External links
- Maryland Judiciary
- Maryland Business & amp; Case Management Technology Program
- Montgomery County Circuit Court
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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