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Circuit Courts are where jury trials are held in the state of Maryland.

Circuit Courts[]

The eight Circuit Courts of Maryland, located in all 23 counties and Baltimore City, are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. Circuit Courts generally handle the state’s major civil cases and more serious criminal matters, along with juvenile cases, family matters, such as divorce, and most appeals from the District Court, orphans’ courts and administrative agencies. The Circuit Courts also can hear, under certain circumstances, civil or criminal cases from the District Court, in which one of the parties has requested a jury trial; cases ordinarily tried in the District Court if the penalty is three or more years in prison, a fine of $2,500 or more, or both; and domestic violence cases.[1]

Circuit Court for Baltimore City[]

The Circuit Court for Baltimore City is a State trial court of general jurisdiction and the 8th judicial circuit in the state of Maryland.  The Circuit Court is the only court in Baltimore City that conducts jury trials.  The Court’s docket is divided into four Divisions: Family, Juvenile, Criminal and Civil with judges assigned to Family, Juvenile, or General Trial.  The Family Division hears cases pertaining to divorce, custody and child support.  The Juvenile Division handles delinquency cases, child in need of assistance cases, and those involving the termination of parental rights.  Cases in the Civil Division cover a broad spectrum, such as motor torts, medical malpractice cases, lead paint cases, asbestos litigation, and cases involving business and commercial matters, as well as appeals from District Court, Orphans’ Court and administrative agencies. Criminal Division cases include all felonies, misdemeanor cases where a jury trial has been requested, and appeals from District Court.[2]

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