FY 25 Harford County Government Proposed Operating Budget

JUDICIAL

ORIGIN/PURPOSE: The Circuit Courts were frst established in Maryland by the Constitution of 1851 and were continued by subsequent Constitutions which were passed in 1864 and 1867. Since 1867, Harford County and Baltimore County have comprised the Third Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court for Harford County is a Court of General Jurisdiction. It handles a wide variety of civil disputes including tort and contract disputes for parties requiring a jury trial. It also hears family law related cases including divorce, child custody and child support cases. On the criminal side, it hears felony cases and prayers for jury trial from the District Court. The State of Maryland pays for the judges’ salaries and the expense of a full-time master as well as providing for fve law clerks. It also funds the Ofce of the Clerk of the Circuit Court which provides the staf for the Court system. Harford County funds the costs of the judges' staf as well as the operation of the Jury Commissioner's Ofce, the Ofce of Family Court services and the Community Work Service Program. The Circuit Court strives to contain expenditure requirements and still provide expeditious, quality service to the residents of Harford County. AGENCY GOALS: TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR THE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF BOTH DOMESTIC AND NON-DOMESTIC CASES; TO ENSURE THAT LITIGANTS ARE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR LEGAL DISPUTES AND PROBLEMS RESOLVED AS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS THE SITUATION PERMITS WHILE STILL DOING JUSTICE FOR ALL CONCERNED; TO CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE JURY SELECTION PROCESS IN ORDER TO BRING IT IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE NEW STATE LAW REGARDING THE SELECTION OF JURORS; TO CONTINUE TO USE ALL REASONABLE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT JURORS ARE NOT BROUGHT IN UNLESS THEIR PRESENCE WILL BE NECESSARY TO RESOLVE A CASE, TO MINIMIZE THE INCONVENIENCE OF SERVING ON JURY DUTY TO THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY AND TO REDUCE JURY EXPENDITURES; TO REFINE AND MODIFY THE SCHEDULING AND HEARING OF JUVENILE CASES TO ENSURE THAT THESE MATTERS ARE HEARD AND DECIDED AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE WHILE DOING JUSTICE TO THE VICTIMS, THE JUVENILES AND THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY; TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS TO PAY BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PERFORMANCE OF COMMUNITY WORK SERVICE; TO CONTINUE TO REFINE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICES OFFERED IN DOMESTIC CASES AS WELL AS DEVELOP NEW SERVICES TO ASSIST FAMILIES AND THE COURT TO PROMPTLY AND EFFICIENTLY RESOLVE CUSTODY AND VISITATION DISPUTES. MISSION STATEMENT: TO BRING A FAIR AND JUST RESOLUTION FOR EACH OF THE CASES FILED WITH THE COURT.

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