When to Apply with a District Court Commissioner
A District Court Commissioner will determine whether you qualify to be represented by the Office of the Public Defender for District Court or Circuit Court criminal and traffic cases that carry a penalty of incarceration.
If you are determined qualified, you are qualified for representation by the Public Defender, you must contact them for representation after being found qualified. (See IMPORTANT below)
If you apply in person, you will be interviewed by a District Court Commissioner and complete a written application, Form DC-099, and you will be asked to provide information about your income, expenses, and assets.
You may alternatively apply online using the Guide and File Interview. Guide & File is a new tool developed by the Maryland Courts to help complete court forms online. The application guides you through a series of questions called an "interview."
1.Complete Guide & File Interview here
2. You will be given the option to either submit the online application via email or print the documents to submit either in person or by mail to the District Court Commissioner’s Office. Follow the Instructions provided in the Next Steps document provided at the completion of the GUIDE & FILE ONLINE Interview.
3. Upon review of your application, the District Court Commissioner may need to contact you for additional information or for you to provide certain documents to verify the information you provided.
Those documents may include:
Court charging documents/traffic tickets.
(Statement of Charges/all documents issued to you by the Court.)
Trial date notices from the Court.
(You may apply even if you haven't received your trial date notice.)
If you are employed: written proof of salary, pay stubs, or other written verification of income for the last two (2) pay periods.
If you are unemployed: proof of public assistance, medical assistance, Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other assistance you are receiving.
When to Apply Directly with the Public Defender
- Child in Need of Assistance (CINA).
- Juvenile Court cases.
- Appellate Court cases.
Visit the Office of the Public Defender website for District/County Offices www.opd.state.md.us or toll free 1-877-430-5187
District Court Commissioner Locations
Commissioner locations can be found at:
mdcourts.gov/district/directories/commissionermap
You may also call 1-833-453-9799 for location information.
You may apply at any District Court Commissioner's Office, not just in the county where you go to court.
Important
If the District Court Commissioner determines that you are eligible for the services of the Public Defender, please contact the Office of the Public Defender for next steps.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER ON THE TRIAL DATE, YOU MAY HAVE TO GO TO TRIAL WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A LAWYER.
To Check Your Qualification Status
You may check Maryland Judiciary’s Public Case Search to check your status on the website at: mdcourts.gov/courts/courtrecords.html
