Title 2. Court Personnel — Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-501 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–501LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as provided for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City in Subtitle 5A of this title, the judges of the circuit court for a county may employ the court administrators, assignment commissioners, auditors, magistrates, examiners, court reporters, messengers, bailiffs, court criers, librarians, clerks, secretaries, stenographers, jury commissioners, law clerks, and other employees necessary to conduct the business of the court.
(b)
(1)
Each employee of a circuit court is entitled to compensation as provided in the appropriate budget and shall perform the duties that the judge directs.
(2)
(i)
If a court reporter ordered under § 2–503 of this subtitle to take testimony before a grand jury serves in more than one county, the counties where the reporter serves shall apportion the compensation under this subsection as the county administrative judges agree.
(ii)
The Montgomery County Council shall pay the compensation of a court reporter taking or transcribing grand jury testimony in the county.
(c)
(1)
The resident judge in each county of the seventh judicial circuit shall appoint one or more official court reporters for the circuit court in the county. A reporter shall be competent to record court proceedings and shall serve at the pleasure of the judge who appointed him. The reporter shall receive the compensation set by the county government after consultation with the county administrative judge.
(2)
A court reporter shall be reimbursed for expenses as approved by the court. Reimbursement shall be made by the county treasurer or similar officer of the county in which the services were rendered as expenses of the court upon presentation of a certificate from the clerk showing the attendance and services of the reporter.
(3)
If directed by the court, the reporter shall attend and take full stenographic notes of, or otherwise record the oral testimony and judicial opinions in all proceedings in the court.
(4)
The court may direct the reporter to transcribe the notes of a proceeding and the costs of transcription may be taxed as costs in the case or paid as part of the general expenses of the court.
(5)
On request by a party, a reporter shall furnish a typewritten transcript of any portion of his notes, upon payment of the expenses incident to the transcript at the rate fixed by the court.
(d)
(1)
The five counties comprising the second judicial circuit of Maryland shall provide a pension to any court stenographer of the circuit who has served in that capacity for 25 or more years.
(2)
Each county shall share in a pro rata contribution to the pension in the following proportions:
(i)
Caroline County –– 20.5 percent;
(ii)
Cecil County –– 15.6 percent;
(iii)
Kent County –– 19.9 percent;
(iv)
Queen Anne’s County –– 19.9 percent; and
(v)
Talbot County –– 24.1 percent.
(3)
The county commissioners or county council for each of those counties shall appropriate annually the necessary funds to pay its share of the pension.
(4)
The pension shall be $4,000 a year and shall be paid in monthly installments of $333.33.
(e)
(1)
There shall be included in the State budget for the Judicial Branch an appropriation to the Administrative Office of the Courts in the amount necessary to pay salaries and benefits of standing circuit court magistrates.
(2)
The Administrative Office of the Courts shall:
(i)
Identify the standing circuit court magistrates; and
(ii)
Develop a personnel management plan and funding plan to implement this subsection.
(3)
A standing magistrate of a circuit court or a judicial circuit shall report to and perform the duties and assignments determined by the judges of the respective circuit court or circuit, in accordance with the statewide policy on magistrates.
(4)
The Supreme Court of Maryland may adopt rules concerning the magistrate positions described in this subsection.
(5)
(i)
Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, circuit court magistrates identified under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall remain county or Baltimore City employees and shall not be State employees.
(ii)
A circuit court magistrate identified under paragraph (2) of this subsection may elect to become a State employee between January 1, 2002, and March 31, 2002, both inclusive.
(iii)
A circuit court magistrate who elects under this subsection to become a State employee shall become a State employee on July 1, 2002.
(iv)
A standing circuit court magistrate hired on or after July 1, 2002, shall be a State employee.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-502 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–502LinkCopy Citation
Each clerk of a circuit court shall keep permanently a test book containing the oaths of office and signatures of every individual who takes the oath before the clerk.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-503 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–503LinkCopy Citation
The jury judge for a county may order a court reporter to take and transcribe testimony given before a grand jury for the county for use as provided in § 8-416(c)(1) of this article.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-504 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–504LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
The clerk of each circuit court shall receive an annual salary of not more than the salary of a State employee at grade 26, step 20 of the State of Maryland Standard and Bargaining Salary Scale in effect on the day before the day that the clerk begins a new term of office.
(2)
Any change in the salary paid under the State of Maryland Standard and Bargaining Salary Scale during the term of office of a clerk may not apply to the incumbent clerk, but the changed rate shall take effect at the beginning of the next following term of office.
(3)
The salary of the clerk of each circuit court shall be set by the Board of Public Works on the basis of the relative volume of business and receipts in the clerk’s office.
(b)
A clerk shall devote his full working time to the duties of the clerk’s office and is entitled to the salary prescribed in subsection (a) of this section.
(c)
The salary of a clerk is payable biweekly.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-504.1 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–504.1LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The clerk of each circuit court shall submit annually a budget for the review and approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland in such form as prescribed by the Secretary of Budget and Management.
(b)
Each budget submitted under this section shall:
(1)
Specify for each clerk’s office:
(i)
The number of positions;
(ii)
The salaries;
(iii)
The expenses; and
(iv)
The anticipated revenues; and
(2)
Be submitted to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland in a uniform format as prescribed by the Secretary of Budget and Management.
(c)
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland shall provide preliminary estimates of budget appropriations for the clerk of each circuit court to the Secretary of Budget and Management.
(d)
(1)
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland shall submit the budget of the clerk of each circuit court to the Secretary of Budget and Management at the time prescribed by the Secretary.
(2)
Each budget shall be included in the State budget as part of the budget for the Judicial Branch of State government as submitted by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-505 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–505LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The number of positions in the office of clerk of a circuit court shall be as provided in the budget.
(b)
The procedure for appointment and removal of personnel in the clerk’s office shall be as provided by rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland. Those rules may provide whether the positions shall be in the State Personnel Management System or in the personnel system of the Judicial Branch.
(c)
The compensation for the positions in the clerk’s office shall be set by the Chief Justice.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-506 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–506LinkCopy Citation
The minimum hours of work in each week for full-time deputies and employees of the offices of clerks of the circuit courts are 35 1/2 hours.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-507 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–507LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A bailiff shall receive the compensation provided in this section. Unless otherwise provided, the amount is a per diem sum for each day he attends the circuit court.
(1)
Allegany County�––�As set by the court and approved by the county government.
(2)
Anne Arundel County�––�As set by the court and approved by the county government.
(3)
Baltimore City�––�As set by the city government.
(4)
Baltimore County�––�As set by the court.
(5)
Calvert County�––�As set by the county government and approved by the court.
(6)
Caroline County�––�$15.
(7)
Carroll County�––�As set by the county government.
(8)
Cecil County�––�$17.50.
(9)
Charles County�––�As set by county government.
(10)
Dorchester County�––�As set by the court and confirmed by the County Commissioners.
(11)
Frederick County�––�As set by the county government.
(12)
Garrett County –– As set by the court and approved by the County Commissioners.
(13)
Harford County�––�As set by the court.
(14)
Howard County�––�As set by the county government.
(15)
Kent County�––�$25.
(16)
Montgomery County�––�As set by the county government.
(17)
Prince George’s County�––�As set by the county government and approved by the court.
(18)
Queen Anne’s County�––� As set by the court and approved by the county government.
(19)
St. Mary’s County�––�As set by the county government.
(20)
Somerset County�––�$10.
(21)
Talbot County�––�As set by the county government.
(22)
Washington County�––�As set by the court and approved by the County Commissioners.
(23)
Wicomico County�––�As set by the county government.
(24)
Worcester County�––�As set by the county government but not more than $35.
(b)
A court crier shall receive the per diem compensation provided by this section for attending the circuit court:
(1)
Caroline�––�$15;
(2)
Cecil�––�As set by the County Commissioners;
(3)
Kent�––�$17.50;
(4)
Queen Anne’s�––� As set by the court and approved by the county government;
(5)
Somerset�––�As set by the County Commissioners;
(6)
Talbot�––�As set by the County Commissioners;
(7)
Wicomico�––�As set by the County Commissioners.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-508 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–508LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In Prince George’s County, in accordance with the Maryland Rules, the County Administrative Judge shall:
(1)
Establish the Office of Calendar Management to schedule all proceedings before the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, including juvenile matters, civil, criminal, and domestic relations cases;
(2)
Appoint the employees of the Office of Calendar Management; and
(3)
Supervise directly or through a designee the functions and employees of the Office of Calendar Management.
(b)
Prince George’s County shall fund all salaries and other expenses of the Office of Calendar Management.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-509 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–509LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In Anne Arundel County, there is the Office of the Director of Assignments of the Circuit Court.
(b)
The Office of the Director of Assignments of the Circuit Court shall:
(1)
Schedule all civil cases before the Circuit Court; and
(2)
Perform all other duties as directed by the administrative judges of the circuit and Anne Arundel County.
(c)
Pursuant to the Maryland Rules, the County Administrative Judge of Anne Arundel County shall:
(1)
Appoint the Director of Assignments; and
(2)
Supervise the functions and employees of the Office of the Director of Assignments.
(d)
(1)
Anne Arundel County shall pay all expenses of the Director and the Office of Assignments of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, excluding salary and fringe benefits for other employees of the Office of Assignments.
(2)
In Anne Arundel County, the employees in the Office of the Director of Assignments shall be:
(i)
Selected from the staff of the Clerk of the Circuit Court;
(ii)
Paid from the budget of the Clerk of the Circuit Court; and
(iii)
Under the exclusive supervision and control of the Director of Assignments.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-510 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–510LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This section applies only to employees of the Domestic Relations Division of the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court who, on or before June 30, 2002 were participants in the Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System.
(b)
An employee of the Domestic Relations Division of the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court who is transferred on or before July 1, 2002 into the State Personnel Management System as an employee of the Child Support Administration of the Maryland Department of Human Services, including any attorney representing the Child Support Administration may elect to:
(1)
Remain as a participant in the Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System; or
(2)
Become an enrollee in the Employees’ Pension System of the State of Maryland.
(c)
(1)
If an employee elects to remain as a participant in the Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System, the election remains in effect only as long as the employee remains employed by the Child Support Administration of the Department of Human Services.
(2)
If the employee transfers to another position in State service, the employee shall become an enrollee of the Employees’ Pension System of Maryland.
(3)
While an employee remains a participant in the Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System, the State Central Payroll Bureau shall deduct from the employee’s biweekly salary an employee contribution that equals the employee’s salary multiplied by the employee contribution rate certified by the Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System under subsection (d)(2) of this section.
(d)
(1)
Until the date that the last employee transferred to the State Personnel Management System leaves service in the Child Support Administration of the Department of Human Services, the Department of Human Services shall pay on a quarterly basis to the Anne Arundel County government:
(i)
The amount deducted by the State Central Payroll Bureau from an employee’s biweekly salary for that quarter as provided under subsection (c)(3) of this section; and
(ii)
An employer contribution for that quarter equal to the total of the employee salaries subject to a deduction under subsection (c)(3) of this section multiplied by the employer contribution rate determined by the Department of Human Services under paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(2)
On or before May 15 of each year, the Board of Trustees of the Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System shall certify to the Department of Human Services the employer and employee contribution rates for pension benefits determined for the Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System for the next fiscal year.
(3)
If the employer contribution rate certified under paragraph (2) of this subsection is greater than the employer contribution rate paid by the State for State employees under the State Personnel Management System, the Department of Human Services may limit the employer contribution rate to the employer contribution rate paid by the State for State employees under the State Personnel Management System.
(4)
An employee transferred under this section is not subject to § 22–406(c)(2) of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.
(e)
(1)
A retiree covered under this section who elected to remain in the Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System may:
(i)
Enroll in the health insurance benefit option provided under that system; and
(ii)
Once enrolled, receive the retirement health benefits provided by the county, subject to the creditable service requirements established in § 2–508 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.
(2)
On or before May 15 of each year, the personnel officer for Anne Arundel County shall certify to the Department of Human Services the contribution rates for health benefits determined for the Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System for the next fiscal year.
(3)
The Department of Human Services shall pay on a quarterly basis to the Anne Arundel County government an amount equal to the employer’s contribution for those health benefits.
(4)
If the employer contribution rate certified under paragraph (2) of this subsection is greater than the employer contribution rate paid by the State for State retirees under the State Personnel Management System:
(i)
The Department of Human Services may limit the employer contribution rate to the employer contribution rate paid by the State for State employees under the State Personnel Management System; and
(ii)
The retiree is responsible for payment of the balance of any monthly premium cost to the county not reimbursed by the State.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-511 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–511LinkCopy Citation
There shall be included in the State budget for the Judiciary Department of Maryland beginning in fiscal year 2000, an authorization to the Administrative Office of the Courts in the total amount necessary to provide interpreter services required to be provided by federal or State law in a circuit court proceeding.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-512 (2026)
Title 2. Court Personnel
Subtitle 5. Courts of General Jurisdiction
§ 2–512LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Each circuit court judge shall have one law clerk, to be employed by the State.
(b)
The budget for the Administrative Office of the Courts shall include funds to employ one law clerk for each circuit court judge.