SB 833 (Request of Attorney General and 15 Senators) Circuit Court Judges- Election, Qualifications, and Terms of Office amends the Constitution to alter the method of electing Circuit Court Judges to be retention elections. (JPR 3/9) LWVMD is testifying in support based on our Administration of Justice position.

SB 833 (Request of Attorney General and 15 Senators) Circuit Court Judges - Election, Qualifications, and Terms of Office would amend the Constitution to alter the method of electing Circuit Court Judges to be retention elections. (JUD 3/9)

HB 106 (Dumais and 16 others) XF SB248 (Frosh and 7 others) Civil Cases - Maryland Legal Services Corporation Fund - Surcharges proposes to increase the surcharges on civil cases filed in Circuit Court from a maximum of $25 to a maximum of $70. District Court fee would increase from $5 to$10 for summary ejectment cases and from $10 to $20 for all other civil cases. The surcharge money is deposited into the Maryland Legal Services Corporation used to finance legal services to indigent persons.

SB 118 & 119 (Zirkin & Stone) - Civil Jury Trials in Civil Actions - Amount in Controversy propose that a party in a civil case may not demand a jury trial if the amount in question does not exceed $20,000. State Law currently has a $10,000 threshold. SB 119 is the companion bill to amend the Maryland Constitution.