Topics on this page:
- What Are Court Rules?
- Locating the Rules
- Organization of Rules
- Which Court Rules Apply?
- Special Proceedings
- Local Rules
- Federal Rules
What are Court Rules?
Court rules are the official procedures that must be followed when handling a case in court. In Maryland, these are called the Maryland Rules. They explain how court cases move forward and what steps everyone—judges, lawyers, and people without lawyers—need to follow.
Court rules cover things like:
- Which court can hear your case
- How to officially notify someone you're suing
- Deadlines for filing documents
- What kind of evidence can be used
- How juries are chosen
These rules are created and updated by the Supreme Court of Maryland (formerly the Court of Appeals), which is the highest court in the state.
Locating the Rules
The Maryland Rules are available online and in print.
- Print - The Maryland Rules are published in the two paperback volumes of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Any library that subscribes to the Annotated Code of Maryland will also get the court rules. The rules volumes contain several different sets of court rules, which apply in different courts and in different types of cases. The rules volumes also include their own indexes to the court rules - one index for rules of the state courts and a separate index for each of the federal courts that sits in Maryland (the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court).
- Online - The Maryland Rules are available for free online. The Thurgood Marshall State Law Library has information about accessing Maryland Rules online.
Organization of Rules
The Maryland Rules are grouped by Title and Chapter:
- Titles cover broad legal topics (like evidence or civil procedure).
- Chapters break down those topics into specific areas.
Example: Md. Rule 5-601
- Title 5 = Evidence
- Chapter 600 = Witnesses
- this rule talks about who can be a witness in court.
- this rule talks about who can be a witness in court.
Which Court Rules Apply?
The rules that apply to your situation depend on:
- Which court you're in (District Court, Circuit Court, or an appellate court)
- What kind of case you have (civil, criminal, family, etc.)
Here’s a quick guide:
- Circuit Court civil cases → Title 2 of the Maryland Rules
- District Court civil cases → Title 3 of the Maryland Rules
Read the rule: Md. Rule 1-101
Special Proceedings
Small claims and landlord-tenant cases follow special rules under the District Court Rules.
Small Claims
- Rules for small claims are in Md. Rule 3-701.
- The court trial for a small claims matter is much more informal under these special rules. If there is no special rule on a certain issue, then the general rules (Md. Rules, Title 3 excluding Chapter 7) apply.
- For example, Md. Rule 3-701(e) says that there will be no discovery allowed in small claims cases (i.e. cases in which $5,000 or less is in dispute). If your claim is for only $50 more ($5,050), however, discovery is allowed under the regular District Court rules and therefore more complicated rules apply. See Md. Rules Title 3, Chapter 400.
- Applies when the amount in dispute is $5,000 or less.
Landlord-Tenant Cases
- Special rules for landlord-tenant cases are in Md. Rule 3-711.
Local Rules
Maryland’s court rules are the same no matter which county or court you’re in. That means the procedures generally don’t change across the state. However, in a few specific situations, a particular court may have its own local rule. These local rules usually deal with things like how the court library is run, special ceremonies, how certain court officials are paid, or how bail bonds are handled. If your case involves one of these topics, it’s a good idea to check whether the court has any local rules that apply.
Read the rule: Md. Rule 1-102
Federal Rules
The federal rules of practice and procedure govern the federal court processes. Detailed information is available on the United States Courts website.