The court system in Montgomery County is headquartered in the county seat, Rockville. Here is a brief overview of the legal system:

District and Circuit Court
There are two levels of trial courts: the state-run District Court, operating in Rockville and Silver Spring, and the county-run Circuit Court of Montgomery County (part of Maryland’s Sixth Judicial Circuit with Frederick) in Rockville.

Generally speaking, the District Court handles small claims cases, as well as misdemeanors and felonies with penalties of less than three years in jail or as much as $2,500 in fines. Speeding, red-light running, drunken driving and landlord-tenant cases generally are heard there.

All trials in District Court are argued before a judge; the court hears no jury trials.

The Circuit Court handles major civil and criminal cases, family law cases such as divorce and custody, and appeals from the District Court. It is the only court in the county to have jury trials.

Juvenile Court is part of the Circuit Court, but is temporarily housed at District Court in Rockville until the Circuit Court is expanded.

The county’s District Court has 11 judges, including Administrative Judge Eugene Wolfe. The county’s Circuit Court has 22 judges, including County Administrative Judge John W. Debelius III.
Information can be found at www.courts.state.md.us.

State’s Attorney’s Office
The state’s attorney for Montgomery County serves an elected four-year term. John McCarthy (D) was elected to the office in 2006 and again in 2010.