United States District Court for the District of Maryland

United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Court name	United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Established	0 1789
Location	Baltimore
Authority	Article III
Appeals	United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Chiefjudgename	James K. Bredar
Chiefjudgetermstart	2022

United States District Court for the District of Maryland is a federal trial court with jurisdiction over the entire state of Maryland. It is part of the Fourth Circuit, except for patent claims and certain claims against the U.S. government, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit. The court operates from divisional offices in Baltimore, Greenbelt, and Salisbury, handling a wide array of civil and criminal matters under Federal law.

History

The court was established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, making it one of the original thirteen district courts created by the First United States Congress. Its first session was held in Baltimore in 1790, with Judge William Paca presiding. The court's early docket involved admiralty cases related to the Chesapeake Bay and litigation stemming from the War of 1812. Throughout the 19th century, it adjudicated matters involving the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and cases related to Civil War seizures. In the 20th century, the court was a significant forum for litigation during the Civil rights movement, including school desegregation cases following Brown v. Board of Education.

Jurisdiction and organization

The court's jurisdiction encompasses all of Maryland, including the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. It has original jurisdiction over all federal crimes, civil actions arising under the Constitution, federal statutes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and disputes between citizens of different states where the amount exceeds $75,000. The court is divided into three divisions: the Northern Division (Baltimore), the Southern Division (Greenbelt), and the Eastern Division (Salisbury). Cases are assigned to judges based on geographic division and subject matter, with magistrate judges handling preliminary proceedings.

Current judges

As of 2023, the court comprises eight active Article III judges and ten senior judges. The chief judge is James K. Bredar, who succeeded Deborah K. Chasanow. Other active judges include George J. Hazel, Paula Xinis, and Stephanie A. Gallagher. The judges are appointed by the President of the United States, confirmed by the United States Senate, and serve lifetime terms. The court also employs multiple magistrate judges, such as J. Mark Coulson and A. David Copperthite, who assist with dispositive motions and trials.

Former judges

Notable former judges include William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Morris A. Soper, who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Judge Frank A. Kaufman presided over the trial of Vice President Spiro Agnew and the Baltimore jail conditions case. Judge Joseph C. Howard was the first African American appointed to the court. Other distinguished alumni are Alexander Harvey II, Frederic N. Smalkin, and Catherine C. Blake, who later served on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Notable cases

The court has presided over many high-profile trials. In *United States v. Spiro Agnew*, Vice President Agnew pleaded nolo contendere to tax evasion. The *Mitchell v. Maryland* litigation addressed desegregation of the University of Maryland, College Park. The court managed the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Bethlehem Steel. It also handled the prosecution of Linda Tripp for violating Maryland wiretap laws and the trial of Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad. More recently, it oversaw the Guantanamo habeas corpus petition of Ammar al-Baluchi.

Courthouses

The primary courthouse is the Edward A. Garmatz United States Courthouse in Baltimore, named for Congressman Edward A. Garmatz. The Southern Division operates from the Greenbelt Courthouse, located near the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The Eastern Division holds court in the Salisbury Federal Building in Salisbury. These facilities house courtrooms, judges' chambers, and offices for the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Marshals Service.

Category:United States district courts Category:Maryland law Category:Courthouses in Maryland Category:1789 establishments in Maryland