General Background | Mission Statement | Statistics | Timeline
July 1, 1971 – July 5, 2021
The jurisdiction of the court includes all landlord-tenant cases, replevin actions, motor vehicle violations, misdemeanors and certain felonies. In civil cases the District Court has exclusive jurisdiction in claims for $5,000 or less, and concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts in claims for amounts above $5,000 but less than $30,000. The jurisdiction of the District Court is concurrent with that of the circuit court in criminal cases, classified as misdemeanors and certain felonies, in which the penalty may be confinement for 3 years or more or a fine of $2,500 or more. The District Court does not conduct jury trials.
General Background
The District Court of Maryland was created by an amendment to the Maryland Constitution and came into existence on July 5, 1971. It is a fully state-funded court of record possessing statewide jurisdiction.
A constitutional amendment passed in 1969 and ratified in the general election of 1970 created the District Court in 1971. When the Court began operating on July 5, 1971, it replaced a confusing system of local magistrates, justices of the peace, and People’s Courts, each with its own rules and procedures. Under the old system, trials were held in homes, basements of retail establishments, or other unsuitable places. Often, untrained magistrates or justices of the peace staffed these courts. As a result, the quality of justice varied from county to county and failed to provide the citizens of Maryland a judicial system that deserved their full trust and confidence.
The District Court, with headquarters located in Annapolis, is a statewide court with 33 locations in 12 districts. The Chief Judge, judges, and staff ensure its mission - providing equal and exact justice for all who are involved in litigation before the Court.
District Court judges must be members of the Maryland Bar, at least 30 years old, and must reside in the county in which they sit. Most importantly, each must meet high standards of professionalism and personal integrity. Judges are selected by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate.
The District Court, one of just two general trial courts in Maryland, has seen tremendous growth since its inception in 1971. In its first year, the Court processed just under 800,000 cases; today, more than two million cases are filed annually. Those cases cover a wide variety of issues, including:
- landlord-tenant disputes;
- replevin claims, which seek the recovery of goods or property;
- motor vehicle violations, ranging from parking tickets to driving under the influence of alcohol;
- civil lawsuits for up to $30,000;
- criminal misdemeanors and certain felonies; and
- bail and preliminary hearings for any crime charged in Maryland.
The District Court does not conduct jury trials. In those instances where a party to a case is entitled to and requests a jury trial, the case is moved to a circuit court. As a result, civil claims for between $5,000 and $30,000, and certain criminal offenses can be heard in either District Court or circuit court.
With such broad jurisdiction, it should come as no surprise that most Maryland citizens with court business visit the District Court. Many individuals choose to represent themselves, especially in civil disputes over small amounts. In that sense, the District Court is truly a people’s court.
The Court and its employees are proud to continue the tradition of providing excellent service to the people of Maryland.
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the District Court of Maryland to provide equal and exact justice for all who are involved in litigation before the Court.
It is the sworn obligation of the judges of the Court to ensure that every case tried herein is adjudicated expeditiously, courteously, and according to law, and with the fullest protection for the rights of all who are involved, for the most extraordinary aspect of the judiciary in a free society is that even while exercising the vast authority entrusted to them, judges remain the servants, and not the masters, of those on whom they sit in judgment.
It is the function of the nonjudicial employees of the District Court to facilitate the hearing and processing of all cases within the Court’s jurisdiction, and to deal fairly, courteously, and patiently with all with whom they come into contact, without regard to age, race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or political or social standing.
It was to ensure the fulfillment of these ideas that this Court was founded, and its commitment to them must always remain unwavering and unyielding.
Statistics
The numbers reported here are for internal tracking purposes only. For external reporting purposes, refer to the Maryland Judiciary's annual Statistical Abstract.**
Note: To view the statistic reports by month in Google Chrome, click on the bookmark tab in the top right corner of your browser.
By month and calendar year:
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
FY05, FY06, FY07, FY08, FY09, FY10, FY11, FY12, FY13, FY14, FY15, FY16, FY17, FY18, FY19, FY20, FY21, FY22, FY23, FY24
Extreme Risk Protective Orders
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Eviction Data
2023, 2024
Note: The data will not match the monthly eviction totals that are seen on the District Court of Maryland Landlord/Tenant Case Activity Report. That data is collected manually by all jurisdictions, as of the end of each month. Some jurisdictions rely on a total provided by the local Sheriff's department for an accurate count of the total evictions. Because the data provided in the spreadsheet relies on data entry, the clerks may not have all data entered into the case management system when the report is run. These evictions will be captured on subsequent month's reports because the reporting looks for when the data is entered by the clerk.
Timeline
Rev. 11/12/2024