Maryland District Court

The District Court of Maryland is a state lower trial court (court of original jurisdiction) in the state of Maryland.^[1] It enjoys limited jurisdiction over "minor issues," including over all landlord-tenant law cases, replevin actions (the recovery or return of wrongfully taken goods), motor vehicle violations, misdemeanors such as disturbing the peace, and certain felonies.^[1][2] The District Court does not conduct jury trials.^[2]

It is a single state court with multiple locations,^[1] even though it is typically referred to by the county in which it sits, such as the "Allegany County District Court."^[1] While counties must typically pay many of the expenses for the local Maryland Circuit Court, the state always pays for the operations of the District Court.^[1] There is at least one district judge in each county and in the city of Baltimore.^[1]

The court exercises exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases with claims of less than $5,000.^[2] It exercises jurisdiction concurrent with the Maryland Circuit Court in civil cases with an amount in controversy between $5,000 and $30,000.^[2]

The District Court was created by a state constitutional amendment and came into existence in July 1971 to replace a "hodgepodge" system of local justices of the peace, magistrates, and People's Courts.^[1][2]

Some appeals from District Court are heard by the Circuit Court, although most are heard by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and the Maryland Court of Appeals.^[1]

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