Maryland Courts to Remain Closed Through June 5th, 2020.

“All courts in the Maryland Judiciary, court offices, administrative offices, units of the Judiciary, and the Offices of the Clerks of the Circuit Courts and the clerks’ offices of the District Court having been restricted to emergency operations and closed with limited exceptions beginning on March 17, 2020, shall remain restricted to emergency operations, and closed to the public through June 5, 2020” As Attorney Eric T. Kirk will tell you.

The following matters shall continue to be scheduled or heard, either in person or remotely

In the Circuit Courts:

(A) bail reviews/bench warrants

(B) arraignments for detained defendants

(C) juvenile detention hearings

(D) juvenile shelter care hearings

(E) peace order petitions (juvenile respondents)

(F) emergency evaluation petitions

(G) quarantine and isolation petitions

(H) extradition cases

(I) body attachments

(J) extreme risk protective order appeals

In the District Court:

(A) bail reviews/bench warrants

(B) emergency evaluation petitions

(C) quarantine and isolation violations

(D) body attachments

District Court Commissioners shall handle the following matters:

(A) new extreme risk protective order petitions

(B) new domestic violence protective petitions (adult respondents)

(C) new peace order petitions (adult respondents)

(D) initial appearances

(E) applications for statement of charges

(F) acceptance of bail bonds

(G) bench warrant satisfactions

If the courts are convinced a matter is of an exigent nature, provisions are made for “the administrative judge or his or her designee [to] review the petition, determine whether it must be heard in person, or can be heard with remote electronic participation, or can be scheduled after the emergency period has ended, or can be resolved without a hearing:

Such matters include, but are not limited to:

(1) CINA matters

(2) emergency delinquency hearings, including motions related to juveniles who are detained, committed pending placement,

(3) emergency Habeas Corpus petitions

(4) emergency issues in guardianship matters

(5) domestic violence protective orders

(6) appeals from peace orders

(7) family law emergencies, including time urgent matters related to special juvenile immigrant status

(8) temporary restraining orders

(9) criminal competency matters

(10) motions regarding:

(A) extreme risk protective orders

(B) domestic violence protective orders

(C) peace orders

(11) contempt hearings related to peace or protective orders

(12) matters involving locally incarcerated defendants,

Source: SECOND AMENDED ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER EXPANDING AND EXTENDING STATEWIDE JUDICIARY RESTRICTED OPERATIONS DUE TO THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY