Circuit Court

• 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.

JURY TRIALS

Jury selection will take place beginning at 9 a.m. at:

The Circuit Court for Baltimore County
401 Bosley Ave
Towson, Maryland 21204

• 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.

NOTICE TO CRIMINAL ATTORNIES PRACTICING IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTiMORE COUNTY

Effective February 29, 2024, the Circuit Court will begin strictly enforcing Rule 4-2 l 4(a). Read the Notice. 

RESUMPTION OF JURY TRIALS

Jury selection will take place beginning at 9 a.m. at:

The Circuit Court for Baltimore County
401 Bosley Ave
Towson, Maryland 21204 

• 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.

Guardianship is the legal process by which the Court:

• Determines an individual, by virtue of being a minor or having been judged by the Court to have a disability prohibiting him or her from being able to manage his or her own affairs, is in need of protection and
• Appoints another individual as its agent to protect their health, safety, and financial well-being of the minor or disabled person

A Petition for Guardianship may be filed for an adult alleged to have a disability or for a minor. To assist individuals with navigating the guardianship process within Baltimore County, the Circuit Court has established a Guardianship Differentiated Case Management (DCM) Plan. The Guardianship DCM Plan outlines the policies and procedures of the Baltimore County Circuit Court, pursuant the applicable state statutes, from the commencement of the guardianship action though its resolution.

All Adult Guardianship Petitions, Petitions for Person and Property of Minor and Petitions for Property of Minor are processed by the Trust Department. Pro Se petitioners are directed to file either in person or by mail to the Trust Department. Attorneys and registered MDEC users must file via MDEC. Note: Petitions for Guardianship of Person of Minors are processed by and should be filed with the Family Division.

The policies and procedures of guardianship actions in the Circuit Court are implemented by the County Administrative Judge, Guardianship Lead Judge, the Guardianship Bench, the Trust Clerk and the Guardianship Case Manager. Contact the Guardianship Case Manager, Jessica Labenberg, by emailing jessica.labenberg@mdcourts.gov or calling 410-887-2759.

Training and Reporting Requirements

Individuals pursuing guardianship are required to complete training requirements prior to, and immediately following, their appointment. The training requirements serve to ensure guardians understand their legal responsibilities and know where and how to access resources. Both the Court and the guardian owe a fiduciary duty to the disabled person/minor. As such, guardians are required to inform the Court annually of the personal and financial well-being of the disabled person/minor. The Court, in turn, is responsible for ensuring guardians comply with the below listed requirements:

• Due prior to appointment as a guardian—Prospective guardians are required to complete an orientation program for court-appointed guardians. All prospective guardians must complete a Certificate of Completion.
• Due within 60 days after appointment as a guardian
  
  • Newly-appointed guardians of property must complete and submit an Inventory and Information Report. Guardians are provided a copy of the Report from the Trust Clerk at the time the Appointment Order is mailed.
  • Newly-appointed guardians of the person/property are required to complete a Maryland Courts guardian training program, which is available online and periodically offered in person at the courthouse. Guardians will receive an order with instructions on how and where to access or attend the training program. All guardians must submit a certificate of completion. 
• Due within 60 days from the anniversary of appointment:
  
  • Annual Report of Guardian of Disabled Person and Annual Report of Guardian of Minor—To be completed by individuals appointed as the Guardian of the Person. This Report is used to update the Court on the current care and well-being of the individual under guardianship, as well as advise the Court of planned future care issues or modifications to the guardianship that may be needed. The Trust Clerk annually provides the Report to guardians.
  • Fiduciary’s Account—To be completed by individuals appointed as the Guardian of Property. Guardians are to complete all sections regarding the description and value of assets, expenses and income to the guardianship estate. The Trust Clerk annual provides the Fiduciary’s Account to guardians.

Forms and Resources

The Maryland Judiciary provides resources for:

• Prospective guardians, court-appointed guardians and interested persons involved in a guardianship action can access guardianship forms such as the annual reports and pleadings, they may need to communicate with the Court.
• Families and friends of individuals diagnosed with a disability or illness who may wish to explore less restrictive alternatives to guardianship.
• Maryland Judiciary Case Search

Circuit Court for Baltimore County Clerk’s Office—The Trust Clerk is located on the second floor and is available to accept in-person filings to guardianship matters for individuals who are not registered MDEC users, as well as provide information regarding any filing fees that may apply.

Pursuant to Maryland Rule 10-108, the below guardianship documents are available for public inspection:

• Order Appointing Guardian
• Letters of Guardianship
• Orders Assuming Jurisdiction over a Fiduciary Estate other than Guardianship
• Modifications to the orders listed above

Pursuant to Maryland Rule 16-914, all other guardianship documents are confidential and only available for inspection by individuals who are a party to the case. If you are not a party to the guardianship case and seek access to confidential documents, you must petition the Court for permission.

Note: If you are not a party to a guardianship case you must petition the Court for access to documents other than those listed above.

• 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.