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Helpful Information
Current Status
COVID-19 Status Updates
Maryland Courts have resumed normal operations, however the changes implemented in phase five will continue:
- Mask wearing is optional and will not be required for anyone entering the courthouse.
- Appointments will still be required in the Licensing Department for civil marriage ceremonies.
- Schedule a virtual appointment with the Self-Help Office, which will remain closed for in-person meetings until the Law Library reopens to the public.
Learn more by selecting a specific case type below, or view the resumption of normal operations restart plan, the bar update on criminal processes or the response protocol for confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.
Resumption of Jury Trials
Criminal jury trials will continue to be held. Jury selection will take place beginning at 9 a.m. at:
American Legion
125 York Road
Towson, Maryland
- Jury selection will be conducted by the trial judge, or their designee. Once selected, the jury will be assigned to a specific courtroom and instructed to report to the courthouse either the same day or the following day. The jury will be sworn in when the trial commences in the courthouse.
- All specially-assigned cases have been scheduled for trial. Back up cases have also been selected. If the backup case does not proceed on the first day of trial, it will remain on the docket for an additional day. If the backup case cannot be reached, a postponement should be requested before the Criminal Administrative Judge.
- Cases from the felony or misdemeanor dockets for which a request for jury trial is made should be ready for trial in case the designated primary and backup case do not proceed.
- Counsel must file voir dire and trial exhibits through MDEC at least two days prior to the trial date.
Non-Jury Trial Related Matters
- Criminal dockets will continue to proceed as scheduled at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1:30 p.m.
- Criminal motions will be set on dockets primarily in the afternoon.
- Contested juvenile waiver motions will be set on specialized dockets every other Friday.
- Non-jury trials will continue to be set.
- Plea dockets will be held on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Counsel wishing to schedule a plea hearing should contact the Criminal Case Manager, Brittany Jackson, at 410-887-2853 or brittany.jackson@mdcourts.gov.
- Violation of probation (VOP) bench warrant hearings will continue to be heard on the video bail docket on the next court day after pickup. If the defendant is released, the video bail judge will coordinate a VOP hearing date with the assigned judge’s chambers. If the defendant is not released, the video bail judge will advise the assigned judge so chambers can schedule a hearing.
- The Criminal Administrative Docket, which consists of the daily video bail and bench warrant hearings and postponements, will no longer be split between two judges.
- Trials and hearings already scheduled as remote proceedings will be heard remotely.
- Newly scheduled trials and hearings will be conducted in-person.
- The Office of Family Support Services will be transitioning back to in-person services.
- Requests for remote trials and hearings may be made but will only be granted for good cause.
- Subpoena hearings will resume to in-person.
The following hearings and conferences will continue to be held remotely:
- Scheduling conferences
- Pre-hearing contempt conferences
- Mediation (in-person is available upon request)
- Uncontested divorce hearings
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status hearings
- Adoptions
- Guardianships
- Settlement Court—Requests for remote settlement conferences may be filed, but will only be granted for good cause.
Resumption of Jury Trials
Civil jury trials will continue to be held. Jury selection will take place beginning at 9 a.m. at:
American Legion
125 York Road
Towson, Maryland
- Specially assigned protracted cases (i.e., medical malpractice cases) will proceed on their assigned trial dates. The trial judge, or his or her designee, will conduct jury selection on the first day of trial. The trial will start at the courthouse immediately following jury selection. Once selected, the jury will be assigned to a specific courtroom and instructed to report to the courthouse immediately. The jury will be sworn in when the trial commences.
- Other civil trials (i.e., one- or two-day auto torts) will be assigned to a judge the day before the trial date. Counsel will receive notification that their case will proceed to trial. Jury selection will take place on the morning of the first day of trial at the American Legion. The trial will start at the courthouse immediately following jury selection. Jurors will be instructed to report to a specific courtroom immediately after selection. Jurors will be sworn in when the trial commences.
- Backup cases (standby) will also be identified. Backup cases that do not proceed on the first day of trial will remain on the standby docket for an additional day. If the backup case is not reached, a postponement should be directed to the Lead Civil Judge.
Non-Jury Trial Related Matters
- All motions, administrative/district court appeals and other civil matters will remain on the dockets as scheduled.
- Afternoon dockets will continue in civil cases.
- All bench trials will proceed as scheduled.
- Civil settlement conferences—Requests for remote settlement conferences may be filed, but will only be granted for good cause.
- Initial detention hearings will continue to be held remotely until further notice.
- All delinquency matters other than initial detention hearings will now be presumed to be in-person subject to advance requests for hybrid or remote proceedings.
- Requests for remote hearings should include details for the judicial officer’s consideration.
- Delinquency dockets before magistrates will continue with morning sessions handled in-person until further notice.
- Contested hearings may be specially scheduled and will be presumed to be in-person subject to advance requests for hybrid or remote proceedings.
- All cases will be heard remotely until further notice, subject to an advance request for a hybrid or in-person hearing. Requests for in-person hearings should include details for the judicial officer’s consideration.
- Termination of parental rights (TPR) hearings will be scheduled and may be remote, hybrid or in-person as is appropriate for the particular case and judge. Contact your assigned judge in advance for instructions.
- Establishment cases will continue to be heard in Room G-10. Cases will be heard Monday through Thursday. Dockets will be staggered between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
- DNA testing will resume on alternating Mondays.
- Contempt hearings will continue before magistrates. Dockets will be held every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday plus alternating Mondays between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
- The Child Support Office will collect child support money every Tuesday and alternating Mondays between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
- Bail reviews will continue on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays at 2 p.m. before the chambers judge. Bail reviews will be conducted on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. before Judge Hennegan.
The Circuit Court is the designated court to hear:
- All jury trials, criminal or civil
- All matters pertaining to divorce, custody, child support and visitation
- Criminal cases—Including felonies, District Court of Maryland appeals and certain administrative agencies (known as Judicial Review of agency decisions) and jury trial requests
- Major civil cases over $30,000 in controversy
- Major felony cases, including death penalty cases
- Juvenile and family law cases
- Both the Circuit and District Court have mutual jurisdiction over civil matters where the amount in dispute is between $10,000 and $20,000, and all domestic violence petitions
The Maryland Constitution and State law are the sources of the Circuit Court’s authority, powers and jurisdiction.
Policies
The Circuit Court is closed on Court holidays.
- Accessibility—There is handicapped metered parking on both Pennsylvania and Baltimore Avenues. Handicapped persons should enter by the ramp on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the building.
- Criminal Case Postponement—The policy concerning postponement requests in criminal cases assists in rescheduling criminal matters.
- Drop Box for Filings—A drop box is available at the entrance to the Circuit Court to accept any paper filing (during business hours) that is not required to be made electronically through MDEC.
- Security—The Circuit Court for Baltimore County requires all employees, visitors, litigants, witnesses and attorneys to pass through a security checkpoint at the main entrance. Uniformed police officers on official duty, have a separate protocol.
Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices in Court Facilities
- All electronic devices may be inspected by court security personnel.
- Security or other court personnel may confiscate an electronic device for misuse.
- The taking, recording, or transmitting of photographs, videos, or other images by cell phone or any other device is prohibited in the court facility at all times, unless the court expressly grants permission in a specific instance.
- All electronic devices must remain off and inoperable inside the courtroom unless the court expressly grants permission in a specific instance.
- Attorneys and other court personnel are permitted the reasonable and lawful use of electronic devices provided that the device makes no audible sound, is positioned so the screen is not visible by the trier of fact or witnesses, is not used to record and is not used to communicate with any other person during the proceeding without express permission of the court.
- An electronic device may not be used in a manner that interferes with court proceedings or the work of court personnel or that violates any court order.
- Security and other court personnel are not liable for any damage, misplacement or loss to electronic devices confiscated or collected.
Any individual who willfully violates Maryland Rule 16-208 or any reasonable limitation imposed by the County Administrative Judge or the presiding judge may be found in contempt of court and may be subject to sanctions in accordance with the Maryland Rules in Title 15, Chapter 200.
Provide Your Feedback
- Customer Service Survey—Please take five minutes to tell us about your recent experience at a Maryland court.
- Suggestions—If you have suggestions regarding any improvements to our court or physical facilities, send them via mail to our Court Administrator, Timothy H. Sheridan, or via email to baltcocc@mdcourts.gov.
Become a Notary Public
The fee is $11 for the Secretary of State and $11 for the Clerk of the Court.
- The address of residence determines which County will issue the commission.
- An application must be made through the Secretary of State. Call 410-974-5521 to request applications.
- Upon notification from the Secretary of State, you will be directed to the Circuit Court to be sworn in.
For Appointed Guardians
For those that have been appointed a guardian, use the below list of forms to assist you in submitting periodic reports to the Trust Department:
- Due within 60 days after your appointment—Initial Inventory of Assets: The initial list of all assets and income of your trustee.
- Due within 60 days from the anniversary of your appointment:
- Annual Fiduciary Report—A description and values of all assets, expenses and income.
- Annual Report of the Guardianship of the Person and Annual Report of Guardian of Minor—Used to update the Court on the well being of the trustee, including their physical and mental conditions, current living situation or planned future-care issues.
Contact Us
Search the table below to find contact information related to a specific division or case type. Please note that no office of the Court, can provide you with legal advice.
| Division/Case Type | Contact Information |
|---|---|
| Administrative Hearings | 410-229-4100 |
Adoptions | 410-887-3069 |
Assignment | 410-887-2660 |
| Bar Association | 410-337-9100 |
| Birth/Death Certificates | Search State records |
| Case Status |
|
| Child Support | |
| Civil | 410-887-2622 |
Clerk's Office
| County Courts Building, Second Floor Mailing Address: Clerk's Office |
Court Psychiatrist | 410-887-6555 |
| Courtroom Clerks | 410-887-3414 |
| Criminal | 410-887-2625 |
Differentiated Case Management (DCM)
| |
District Courts—Responsible for
| |
| Expungements | |
| Family Law |
|
| Foreclosures | 410-887-2652 |
| Guardianship | 410-887-3469 |
| Jury Office | 410-887-3596 |
| Juvenile, Delinquency/CINA | 410-887-3836 |
| Law Library | 410-887-3086 |
| Lawyer Referral | 410-337-9100 |
| Legal Aid Bureau | 410-296-6705 |
| Legal Liens | 410-887-3088 |
| Licenses (Business, Marriage, Notary Publics/Oaths) | 410-887-2608 |
| 410-887-6516 | |
| Plea Hearing Scheduling | Contact: Brittany Jackson, Criminal Case Manager |
| Public Defender Office | 410-324-8900 |
| Records |
|
| Reduced Fee Program | |
| Register of Wills | 410-887-6680 |
Settlement Judges |
|
Small Claims
| 410-512-2000 |
| |
| Trusts | Trust Department Circuit Court for Baltimore County 401 Bosley Avenue P.O. Box 6754 Towson, Maryland 21204 Phone: 410-887-3469 |
Additional Resources
- Maryland Case Search
- Maryland State Courts
- Baltimore City Circuit Court
- Maryland Manual Online: A Guide to Maryland Government
- Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service—410-547-6537
- Commission on Judicial Disabilities
- Attorney Grievance Commission—800-492-1660
- Sixty Plus Program—410-337-9100