Maryland District Court Locations

Under the U.S. Constitution, each state is free to create its own court system. In Maryland, courts are split up into four levels: the District Court, the Circuit Court, the Court of Special Appeals, and the Court of Appeals. The District Court handles minor civil and criminal cases, including traffic violations and landlord-tenant disputes. The Circuit Court deals with more serious criminal and civil cases, family law matters, and appeals from the District Court. The Court of Special Appeals serves as the intermediate appellate court, reviewing decisions from the Circuit Courts. Finally, the Court of Appeals is the highest court in Maryland, handling cases of significant public importance and interpreting state laws and the Maryland Constitution.

The District Court has jurisdiction for civil claims up to $30,000.00. Claims under $5,000.00 are heard as small claims, and the rules of evidence are somewhat relaxed regarding those claims. In claims where more than $ 5,000 is requested for damages, formal discovery is limited to 15 interrogatories unless leave of court is granted to take a deposition.

The District Court is structured to resolve smaller civil cases faster than the Circuit Court. Trials in District Court are judge trials only. There are no jury trials in District Court. In the event a claim is filed for more than $25,000.00 in District Court, the defendant has the right to timely request removal to the Circuit Court for a jury trial. Any party who disagrees with a decision in the District Court generally has the right to appeal the decision to the Circuit Court. The appeal will be heard on the record for cases over $5,000.00 or de novo for cases below $5,000.00.

Maryland District Courts are broken down into 12 districts, with the headquarters being in Annapolis. There is a total of 33 District Court locations across the state, with certain districts having multiple courts.

The districts are as follows:

Allegany County - 123 South Liberty Street, Cumberland, MD 21502

Anne Arundel County -

• Annapolis: 251 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, MD 21401
• Glen Burnie: 7500 Gov. Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD 21061

Baltimore City -

• Hargrove: 700 E. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21225
• Wabash: 5800 Wabash Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215
• Eastside: 1400 E. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21213
• Fayette: 501 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Baltimore County -

• Catonsville: 900 Walker Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228
• Essex: 8914 Kelso Drive, Essex, MD 21221
• Towson: 120 E. Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, MD 21286

Calvert County - 200 Duke Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Caroline County - 207 S. Third Street, Denton, MD 21629

Carroll County - 101 N. Court Street, Westminster, MD 21157

Cecil County - 170 E. Main Street, Elkton, MD 21921

Charles County - 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646

Dorchester County - 310 Gay Street, Cambridge, MD 21613

Frederick County - 100 W. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701

Garrett County - 205 S. Third Street, Oakland, MD 21550

Harford County - 2 S. Bond Street, Bel Air, MD 21014

Howard County - 3451 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Kent County - 103 N. Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620

Montgomery County -

• Rockville: 191 E. Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20850
• Silver Spring: 8552 Second Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Prince George's County -

• Hyattsville: 4990 Rhode Island Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781
• Upper Marlboro: 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
• Queen Anne's County - 120 Broadway, Centreville, MD 21617

Somerset County - 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853

St. Mary's County - 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650

Talbot County - 108 W. Dover Street, Easton, MD 21601

Washington County - 36 W. Antietam Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740

Wicomico County - 201 Baptist Street, Salisbury, MD 21801

Worcester County -

• Snow Hill: 301 Commerce Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863
• Ocean City: 6505 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842