Howard County Judicial system Consists of a Circuit court, a District Court and an Orphans court.

Circuit Court:
Circuit court consists of 5 judges Appointed by Governor &/or elected by Voters to 15-year terms. The Circuit Court Division prosecutes the most serious crimes committed in Howard County. The 12 Circuit Court prosecutors handle cases involving murder, robbery, child abuse, sex offenses, drug felonies, and other serious cases. The Circuit Court Division also handles cases that come to the Circuit Court each year from the District Court. These include appeals from misdemeanor convictions, as well as demands for jury trials.

Contact info:
Courthouse
8360 Court Ave.
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-2111
1-888-313-0197 (toll free)
Web: www.courts.state.md.us/howard.html

District Court:
District Court consists of 5 judges appointed by Governor with Senate consent to 10-year terms. The District Court Division is headed by State's Attorney. An average of 4,500 criminal cases and 3200 serious traffic cases are handled at Howard County district court. The District Court Division of state attorney is comprised of eight full-time Assistant State's Attorneys and one part-time Assistant. The Administrative Support Staff consists of fourteen persons who are responsible for setting up case files, data input, running criminal and traffic records, summonsing witnesses, counseling victims, etc.

Contact info:
District Court/Multi-Service Center
3451 Courthouse Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 480-7700
1-800-944-8107 (toll free)
web: www.courts.state.md.us/district/dchoward.html

Orphans Court:
Orphans Court has jurisdiction over the estates of decedents and minors with power to enforce testamentary or probate law. Composed of one chief judge and two other judges, elected for four-year terms, the court meets each Wednesday and on additional days as required.