Towson District courthouse reopens on October 13
Catonsville District courthouse, Walker Avenue, closes and relocates to the Rolling Cross Road Professional Park

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. – The Towson District courthouse, located at 120 E. Chesapeake Avenue in Towson, will reopen on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at 8:30 a.m., after a nine-month closure due to HVAC repairs. The Towson District courthouse temporarily moved its operations to the new Catonsville District courthouse in January 2020, and judges and Judiciary staff will now move back to the Towson building.

On October 19, 2020, the old Catonsville District courthouse, located at 900 Walker Avenue, will relocate to the new Catonsville District courthouse located at 1 Rolling Cross Road in the Rolling Cross Road Professional Park. The Walker Avenue building, which is owned by the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS), will close permanently and all judges and Judiciary employees will relocate to the new Catonsville District courthouse in the Rolling Crossroads Professional Park.

“This has been an extraordinary year for judges, employees, and the public as they worked through District courthouse building moves in northern and western Baltimore County,” said District Court of Maryland Chief Judge John P. Morrissey. “We were fortunate to be able to provide continuous and seamless service throughout Baltimore County as we made much-needed repairs at the Towson District courthouse and transitioned the older Walker Avenue location to a newly built District Court complex just a few miles away within Catonsville. I am grateful to all of the hardworking Judiciary staff and judges who worked hard to provide continuity of court services during this challenging time.”

The scheduled six-month move was extended to nine months, in part, due to the limitations brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which resulted in a delay in completing the HVAC repairs.

All individuals that have business with the Towson District courthouse should report to the Chesapeake Avenue courthouse in Towson beginning October 13, 2020. Individuals with business at the old Catonsville District courthouse on Walker Avenue should report to the new Catonsville courthouse at the 1 Rolling Cross Road location beginning on October 19, 2020. Signage will be placed at the Towson District courthouse, and the Walker Avenue and Rolling Cross Road courthouses, to alert the community of the upcoming location changes. All services provided at the Towson District courthouse, including the commissioner’s office, will be provided at the Chesapeake Avenue location. All services provided at the Walker Avenue location, including the commissioner’s office, will be relocated to the Rolling Cross Road courthouse.

Per an Administrative Order by Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera,  anyone visiting a courthouse is required to wear a mask or face covering and submit to a written or verbal questionnaire regarding whether or not they are experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms and a contactless thermometer temperature check. These measures are in place as additional safety precautions to help protect the well-being of all court employees and visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are fortunate to have such dedicated judges and staff at the Towson District courthouse and the Catonsville District courthouse,” said Baltimore County District Court Administrative Judge Dorothy Wilson. “Everyone has exhibited a spirit of caring and cooperation and has played a critical role to ensure court users experienced no disruption in critical court services.” 

Baltimore County has three District Court locations (Catonsville, Essex, and Towson):

• The new Catonsville District courthouse located at 1 Rolling Cross Road in Catonsville;
• The Essex District courthouse located at 8914 Kelso Drive in Essex; and
• The Towson District courthouse located at 120 E. Chesapeake Avenue in Towson.

Between 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020, and 7 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, commissioner services will be available only at the Essex District courthouse or the new Catonsville district courthouse (1 Rolling Cross Road). From 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2020, to Monday, October 19, 2020, at 7 a.m., commissioner services will continue be available at the Essex, Towson, and the new Catonsville District courthouses.

Commissioner services include applications for public defender, petitions for domestic violence or peace orders, extreme risk protective orders, applications for charges, posting of bail, or any other matter for which a commissioner is needed. Beginning Tuesday, October 13, 2020, these commissioner services will be available at the Towson District Court.

The public can email the court with questions, comments, and concerns about the Towson District courthouse move at [email protected], or they can email regarding the Catonsville District courthouse relocation. In addition to courthouse signage, FAQ sheets and transportation guides will be made available at all Baltimore County District courthouses. Information is also available online at https://mdcourts.gov/district/about/move.

For more updates on the courthouse move, follow the Maryland Judiciary on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MDJudiciary.

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