Everything You Need to Know About Montgomery County MD Court(s)
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What Courts Hear Criminal Cases in Montgomery County, MD?
If you or your loved one is facing criminal charges in Montgomery County, then the trial would likely take place at the county district or circuit court.
These two courts are the primary trial courts in Maryland, and they handle various civil and criminal cases. But sometimes their jurisdiction overlaps which could make things confusing for most people.
The information provided here can help you understand how both courts work as you prepare for your case and how to take advantage of their concurrent jurisdiction in criminal cases. Read on to get more insight into the Montgomery County court system.
Criminal Cases Heard by the Courts
The Montgomery County District Court handles cases that involve traffic violations, domestic violence, peace or protective orders, misdemeanors such as assault or theft, and certain felonies. The district court also handles preliminary hearings for felonies that will eventually be tried in circuit court.
In contrast, the Montgomery County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over more serious criminal cases and felonies that can’t be heard by the district court, including:
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Murder
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Drug offenses
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Robbery
The Montgomery circuit and district courts have concurrent criminal jurisdiction where the penalty for the offense charged involves jail time for a minimum of three years or a minimum of a $2500 fine.
Note that the district court does not conduct jury trials, so if your district court case falls within the concurrent jurisdiction of both courts and you feel that a jury trial would be better for your case, you can have it transferred to the circuit court. If you’re unsure how to proceed with this, you can ask an experienced criminal defense attorney for help.
How to Find Montgomery County Courts
You can find the Montgomery County Circuit Court at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. You can also call the court at 240-777-9400 if you have general inquiries. Otherwise, you might need to contact your attorney if you require specific legal answers.
There are two district courthouse locations in Montgomery County- one in Rockville and the other at Silver Spring.
The Rockville district courthouse is located at 191 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20850-2630, while the Silver Spring courthouse is located at 8552 Second Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. You can call both courthouses for questions about your criminal case at 301-563-8800 and 301-563-8500, respectively.
All Montgomery County courts are open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays. If you need to visit any of the courts for any reason, ensure that you get there within this time; otherwise, you might not find anyone to assist you.
How to Find Case Information in Montgomery County Courts
If you need to find information about a criminal case or criminal records in Montgomery, Maryland courts, you can utilize the Maryland Judiciary Case Search online platform. The case search portal allows you to search for case information across courts by county.
You can search for cases at any Maryland court via the platform in the following ways;
Search by the Name of a Party
If you want to search for a case by the name of one of the parties involved, you will need to provide the party’s last name, first name, and middle initial. You may also need to provide the case type and the county where the case was filed.
Search by Case Number
If you know the case number for the case you are looking for, you can search for it directly by entering the case number in the appropriate field.
Search by Filing Date
If you are searching for a case filed on a specific date, you can search for it by entering the filing date in the appropriate field.
Once you have found the case you are looking for, you can view limited case information, including the case title, the case type, the court location, and the case status.
Sometimes, the information may not be available online or may be restricted due to privacy or security reasons. If this happens and you cannot get the specific information you require, you might need to visit the court in person to access the file.
Don’t Navigate the Complex Court System Alone. Get in Touch With Experienced Maryland Attorneys
The Montgomery County court system plays a crucial role in the administration of justice, whether you are facing a minor traffic violation or a serious criminal charge. Because there are several trial courts in the county, it could be difficult to understand the court system, which could lead to mistakes that could adversely affect the outcome of your case.
To make things easy, consider hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can help you navigate the complex legal process, protect your rights, and ensure that your case is handled fairly.
If you have further questions about your criminal case in Montgomery County courts, do not hesitate to contact us at Scrofano Law. Our experienced criminal defense lawyers are familiar with the Montgomery County courts and understand how their systems work. We can help you navigate the system and work to help you achieve the desired outcome for your case.
You can schedule a free consultation with us anytime to get started.
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