State Court System

Question 1

4 tier system

Answer 1

• 2 trial

- 2 appellate

Question 2

Maryland’s 4 tier system

Answer 2

MD Court of Appeals
MD Court of Special Appeals
8 MD Circuit Courts (also juvenile & orphan)
12 MD District Courts

Question 3

MD District Court jurisdiction

Answer 3

• limited jurisdiction

- ONLY original jurisdiction

Question 4

MD District Courts handles…

Answer 4

• minor cases
• civil cases ALL less than $5,000
• concurrent $5,000-$30,000 jurisdiction with circuit court
• ALWAYS bench trials
• Need $15,000 to move to circuit court to get a jury

Question 5

MD District Courts examples of cases…

Answer 5

-landlord/tenant
-motor vehicle violations
-criminal cases (with a maximum penalty is less than 3 years and less than $2,500)
~anything higher goes to circuit or district

Question 6

Who appoints court commissioners

Answer 6

Chief Judge

Question 7

MD Circuit Court Jurisdiction

Answer 7

• state trial court of general jurisdiction
• major trial court
• Appellate & Original jurisdiction

Question 8

Appellate Jurisdiction

for MD Circuit Court

Answer 8

TRIAL DE NOVO (new trial)

If there is an appeal in the MD district court the case goes to circuit court and gets a new trial

Question 9

Original Jurisdiction

for MD Circuit Court

Answer 9

when there is

• 3 years imprisonment or greater
• $2,500 fine or greater

Question 10

MD Circuit Court handles…

Answer 10

• civil cases (largest category of cases)
• from $5,000 up to $30,000 concurrent jurisdiction with District Court
• ALL above $30,000
• Equity cases
• Need $15,000 to get a jury

Question 11

Juvenile Courts

Answer 11

• differs in every state
• 17 is max age to be a juvenile is MD
• not public
• If there is an appeal = goes to Circuit Court Judge

Question 12

Name of Juvenile Judges

Answer 12

Juvenile Masters

Question 13

Maryland Court of Special Appeals

Answer 13

• gets all of cases by appeals and determines is a mistake has been made
• created to ease work of appellate court
• 15 judges
• Uses 3 Judge panel (can have 5 running at the same time)
• rarely En Banc
• Have a Chief Judge to oversee
• Resides in Annapolis

Question 14

Maryland Court of Appeals

Answer 14

• Maryland highest court
• Only Appellate Jurisdiction (make sure no mistake)
• made under constitution
• 7 judges (all 7 take part, majority vote)
• Chief Judge oversees
• Resides in Annapolis

Question 15

Two Ways Maryland Court of Appeals can get cases:

1. ORDER UP

Answer 15

Any case that is currently before Maryland Court of Special Appeals——— The judges on the MD court of Appeals can order that it be sent up to them directly if it raises a significant legal questions (this is rare)

Question 16

Two Ways Maryland Court of Appeals can get cases:

2. PETITIONS

Answer 16

Believe there was a mistake in law 
-cases have been dealt with in MD courts
-4 judges on court of appeals must agree to accept a petition in order for them to hear a case
(same rule of 4 a supreme court)
-get around 700 a year (accept 15%)

Question 17

Orphans Court

Answer 17

• Now an agency
• Decides the process of what happens with person good with or without a will after they die
• if someone test a will, goes to circut court