VOTE411 Voter Guide

DUTIES: Circuit Court Judges preside over jury and bench trials in the Circuit Court, which hears major criminal trials with the right to a jury, and civil cases involving more than $30,000. They also handle family law matters like divorce and custody, and decide appeals from lower courts. TERM: Four years, no term limitSALARY: $214,433HOW ELECTED: Circuit Court Judges are elected county-wide. When there is a vacancy, the Governor appoints a person to fill the office from a list recommended by a judicial nominating commission, which review's each applicants qualifications and experience. Each newly appointed judge will appear on the ballot in the first election occurring after at least one year after the vacancy. Attorneys who are members of the MarylandBar may also run to challenge a newly appointed of sitting judge. Candidates run on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots, but not the nonpartisan ballot given to unaffiliated voters.WEBSITE: https://www.courts.state.md.us/circuit