Maryland Circuit [Appellate] Courts (8 courts)
The Circuit Courts of Maryland are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction in Maryland. They are Maryland’s highest courts of record exercising original jurisdiction at law and in equity in all civil and criminal matters and have such additional powers and jurisdiction as conferred by the Maryland Constitution of 1867 as amended, or by law. The Circuit Courts also preside over divorce and most family law matters. Probate and estate matters are handled by a separate Orphans’ Court. The Circuit Courts are the only Maryland state courts empowered to conduct jury trials.
District Courts include appellate courts. Judges are appointed by the Governor with Senate consent to 10-year terms (28 Judges are in Baltimore City).
District Administrative Judge (chosen by Chief Judge, District Court of Maryland, with approval of Chief Judge, Court of Appeals),
Each county has a different number of judges and courthouses.
District courts vs Circuit courts
District Courts and Circuit Courts (or Federal courts of appeals) are part of the federal court system. District courts are “lower” and have the responsibility for holding trials, while circuit courts
are appellate courts that do not hold trials but only hear appeals for cases decided by the lower court.
The district court system is spread over 94 different geographical areas while the circuit court has 13 administrative regions covering the United States. Several different district courts may fall under the same appellate (circuit) court.
Note that some states (such as Florida and Texas) also have what they call “district courts” but this comparison is about the federal court system.
Comparison chart
 |
Circuit Court | District Court |
|---|---|---|
| How many courts? | 13 | 94 |
| Types of cases | Appeals on trials already completed. A step toward the Supreme court. | General trials and questions of federal laws. |
| Number of judges per case | Three-judge appellate panel | One |