Modification -- (a change or alteration) An order changing the terms of a prior order of the Court. And in CR cases, the complainant has to personally appoint a lawyer to handle the case. Transcript -- The official typed record of court proceedings, including the word for word testimony of witnesses, statements by attorneys, rulings by the judge, etc., prepared by the court reporter from stenographic notes or electronic recording made during the proceeding. Appellate Court of Maryland -- Marylands intermediate appellate court wherein review is ordinarily a matter of right. Review of Sentence -- Review of a criminal sentence by a three judge panel (excluding the sentencing judge) on application of the defendant; as a result of the review, the sentence may be increased, decreased, or remain unchanged. Seizure -- The taking of a defendants property to satisfy a judgment. Shielded Record -- A record or information in a record removed from public inspection by a judge or commissioner. Hearsay -- Evidence offered by a witness based on what others have said. Jurisdiction -- Authority by which courts receive and decide cases. Mandamus -- A court order compelling an individual to fulfill an official ministerial duty. A party who fails to comply with a court order in a civil action. Default -- The failure to appear, to defend, or to follow proper procedure in a lawsuit. Complaint, Criminal -- A charge brought before a judicial officer that a person named has committed a specified offense. Merged -- The absorption of a lesser included offense into a more serious offense. Docket Number -- Case number; the designation assigned to each case filed in a particular court. STANDARD DOCKET TEXT ABBREVIATIONS Counsel -- A person who is admitted to practice in a court of law and gives legal advice. Electronic Surveillance -- Court-authorized interception by use of an electronic device of wire or oral communications; wiretapping; eavesdropping. and prior criminal record of the defendant and, in certain cases, a victim impact statement. Pleadings -- The formal allegations by the parties of their respective claims and defenses for the judgment of the court; in criminal matters, this includes a charging document. Terms of Use/Disclaimer, The Journalist's Guide to Maryland's Legal System, statement of charges issued 930817 (August 17, 1993), date of hearing/date bond received; bail amount; defendant status bond code; percentage required; commissioner/judge id#, date of commitment order; incarceration location, date bond set; bail amount; type of bond code; percentage posted, Civil 1989 ( some cases are in history database and are unavailable). Extradition -- The surrender by one state to another of an individual accused or convicted of an offense outside its own territory and within the territorial jurisdiction of the other which, being competent to try and punish him, demands the surrender. Below is the list of Standard Docket Text Abbreviations adopted by this court, as well as a list of abbreviation codes for U.S. Government Agencies. Petty Offense -- An offense the penalty for which does not exceed imprisonment for a period of three months or a fine of five hundred dollars. Regular Estate Judicial (RJ) - A proceeding conducted by the Orphans' Court when matters cannot be handled administratively. There are numerous codes (abbreviations) used by the clerks to identify events in a District Court case record. Explore the common criminal charge abbreviations used with juveniles. Also includes a command of the judge which established courtroom or administrative procedures. Charging Document -- A written accusation alleging that a defendant has committed an offense, including a citation, an indictment, an information, and or a statement of charges. Probable Cause -- Information given to a judicial officer that is sufficient in itself to warrant the issuance of a charging document. Summons -- A writ notifying the person named that an action has been filed against the person and 0 found this answer helpful | 0 lawyers agree and prior criminal record of the defendant and, in certain cases, a victim impact statement. Writ of Habeas Corpus -- A court order compelling a Warden/Sheriff to bring a prisoner before a court at a specific date and time, most frequently to determine whether the prisoner is being held lawfully. Copyright 2023 Maryland Judiciary. This list contains descriptions of the codes most commonly used by the clerks of court. Microfilm -- A photographic record on film of printed or other graphic matter. Semi-colons are used to separate comments. Accused -- The person against whom an accusation is made. Sealed Record -- A record closed by a court to further inspection by anyone unless ordered by the court. Counter Complaint -- A claim filed by a defendant in a civil case against the plaintiff. This answer is being given for general informational purposes only and is not protected by the attorney-client privilege since this is a public forum. Evidence -- All the means by which a matter of fact, the truth of which is submitted for investigation, is established or disproved. 1. Contempt, Civil -- Noncompliance with a court order or rule that affects another person; punishment is administered to compel compliance. I look today and it has the case now listed as 'closed.'. Disposition -- Determination of the final arrangement or settlement of a case following judgment. (Compare Removal). Warrant -- A written order by a judicial officer commanding a peace officer to arrest the person named in it or to search for and seize property as described in it. Police Record -- All official records that a law enforcement unit, booking facility, or the Central Repository maintains about the arrest and detention of, or further proceeding against, a person for a criminal charge, a suspected violation of a criminal law, or a violation of the Transportation Article for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed. This quick reference is not produced by or affiliated with the State of Maryland. Cross Claim -- A claim asserted between co-defendants or co-plaintiffs and in a case that relates to the subject of the original claim or counterclaim. True Copy Test -- A copy of a court document given under the clerks seal, but not certified. Presentment Before Grand Jury -- Presentation of evidence, including testimony of witnesses, by the States Attorney to the grand jury to establish probable cause that the accused committed the alleged offense and to seek issuance of an indictment. An order entered by a judge suspending or postponing a proceeding or execution of an action before the Court. (see De Novo). Collateral Security -- Any property or money pledged or given to guarantee bail. Incompetency -- Lack of capacity to understand the nature and object of the proceedings, to consult with counsel, and to assist in preparing a defense. When searching for a date range you need to enter a last name or first name (partials allowed). 1. in a criminal action, failure to appear may result in a bench warrant being issued for the persons arrest. Charging Document -- A written accusation alleging that a defendant has committed an offense, including a citation, an indictment, an information, and or a statement of charges. Ordinance -- The enactments of the legislative body of a local government. Attachment -- The process of apprehending a person (as in a body attachment) or seizing property to satisfy a judgment. Preliminary Inquiry -- Pre-trial hearing to determine that the defendant has received a copy of the charging document and under-stands the offenses with which he is charged and the penalties thereof. This free program copies your interview answers directly into your court form exactly as you enter it. A disregard of, or disobedience to, the rules or orders of a judicial body or an interruption of its proceedings by disorderly behavior or insolent language. Line (Praecipe) (Trans: command) -- A written request by an attorney entering his/her appearance, for the client before the court. Tenant Holding Over (THO) -- A landlord-tenant action filed by the lessor to repossess certain leased premises which the tenant has not vacated after notice. Mandate -- The judgment issued upon the decision of an appellate court. A witness who fails to comply with a subpoena. April 25, 2023. Estate is solvent, Final Distribution can occur within 12 months from date of appointment. Prepared by Paul J. Notarianni in 2016. Replevin (Trans: to make good, to satisfy) -- To recover the possession of goods or property unlawfully taken or detained. Nolle Prosequi (Nol Pros) (Trans: to be unwilling to proceed) -- A formal motion in a case by the States Attorney, indicating that the charges will not be prosecuted. Pardon -- Relief from a conviction (full pardon) or from any further punishment imposed by a conviction (particular pardon) granted by an executive official (governor or president). D.C. District Circuit. Pretrial Release -- The release by a judicial officer of a defendant, prior to trial, under conditions that the judicial officer feels will reasonably assure the defendants appearance as required. The defendant is also advised of right to counsel, referred to the Public Defender, if eligible, and informed that further appearance in court without counsel is deemed to be a waiver of counsel. A warrant issued in connection with an indictment or information is still active (unless the warrant remains unserved for one year or longer) Parties must keep the Clerk's Office notified of current mailing address (es) in all pending cases. A claim by one party against a co-party. Adjudication -- A judgment or decision of a court or jury regarding a case. Res Gestae -- Things done; rule under which a remark made spontaneously and concurrently with an incident carries an inherent degree of credibility and is admissible because of its spontaneous nature (excited utterance); an exception to the hearsay rule. Copyright 2023 Maryland Judiciary. Writ -- A written order issued by a court and addressed to a sheriff or other person whose action the court desires to command to require performance of a specified act or to give authority to have the act done. Counter Complaint -- A claim filed by a defendant in a civil case against the plaintiff. Miranda Warning -- A requirement based on a United States Supreme Court decision that a person be advised of certain constitutional rights against self-incrimination at the time of arrest and before questioning. The chart includes only case types and cause codes that can be entered in or converted to JIS. Ordinance -- The enactments of the legislative body of a local government. Presentence Investigation Report (PSI) -- A confidential report ordered by the judge and produced by the division of parole and probation prior to sentencing, to provide background information (job, finances, family status, community ties, etc.) Reconsideration -- (a change or alteration) An order changing the terms of a prior order of the Court. Evidence -- All the means by which a matter of fact, the truth of which is submitted for investigation, is established or disproved. Public Record -- A record maintained in a government office, such as a court record, available for inspection by the general public. (Compare Public, Sealed, or Confidential Record). Crimes of Violence -- Maryland Law provides a definition for Crimes of Violence as they relate to mandatory sentences in certain crimes and crimes of violence relating to pistols and revolvers. SDAT Real Property Search provides ownership and value information about every parcel of real property in the State of Maryland (approximately 2,000,000 accounts), as well as sales of real property. Probation -- A means of conditionally releasing an individual after trial. Government, Tracking, Management. Also the endorsement made by the officer upon the writ or other paper stating what he has done under it, the time and mode of service etc. Hospital Warrant -- In accordance with Health-General Article 12-120, a warrant issued by the court where a determination that probable cause exists that the named defendant has violated a conditional release under Title 12 of the Health-General Article. These tables give the various abbreviations for the U.S. Federal Courts including the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals and U.S. District Courts. Minor -- An individual under the age of 18 (eighteen) years. (Compare Removal). Recall -- Cancellation by the court of a warrant before its execution by the arrest of the defendant. Infraction (Civil) -- A violation of a statute, ordinance, or regulation for which the only penalty authorized is a civil fine. Suppress -- To stop, prohibit, prevent, subdue; with respect to evidence, to prevent its use by showing it was obtained illegally or is irrelevant. Confession -- A statement by an individual, either oral or written, admitting that he or she committed a certain offense. 347, 353.). Examination in Aid of Enforcement of Judgment -- A request by plaintiff (judgment creditor) to discover the assets of a defendant (judgment debtor) after entry of judgment. Appeal -- The review of a case in a court of higher jurisdiction. Click the Search again option to take you back to your previous search criteria. Escrow -- The placing of money, a deed, or real property in the hands of a third party to be held until the performance of a condition. U.S. District Court -- Federal trial court with general jurisdiction. Petition for Expungement -- A written request for expungement of Court and police records. Interstate Detainer -- An arrest warrant issued on a charging document in another state and lodged with a correctional institution in Maryland in which the defendant is already detained to ensure continued detention of the defendant until delivered to the custody of the other state for prosecution on the pending charges. With a total land area of 12,407 square miles (32,130 km 2), Maryland is the 8th-smallest state by land area, but its . Distress or Distraint -- Seizure; taking personal property out of the custody of a wrongdoer and into the custody of the party injured; for example, distress is a remedy for failure to pay rent. Custodia Legis -- In the custody of the law; property that has been lawfully taken, by authority of legal process, and remains in the possession of a public officer or an officer of a court empowered by law to hold the property. Modifications can be ordered in open and closed cases. Jointly and Severally -- Acting together and separately; anyone so liable can sue or be sued with or without others joining in the action. Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) -- A conditional avoidance of imposition of sentence after conviction; failure to satisfy the terms and conditions may cause imposition of sentence after a finding of violation of probation. Bail Bond Forfeiture -- The failure to satisfy the condition of the bond, namely the appearance in court as required, causing the full penalty amount to become due. Deposition -- Pretrial examination of a witness on written or oral questions answered under oath, used to discover the witness testimony in preparation for trial, and admissible at trial in lieu of live testimony if the witness is unavailable or refused to testify. Information -- A charging document filed in a court by a States Attorney. Court Records -- All official records maintained by the clerk or other personnel pertaining to any criminal action or proceeding for expungement, including indices, docket entries charging documents, pleadings, memoranda, assignment schedules, disposition sheets, transcriptions of proceedings, electronic recordings, orders, judgments, and decrees. Maryland (US: / m r l n d / MERR-il-nd) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Pleadings -- The formal allegations by the parties of their respective claims and defenses for the judgment of the court; in criminal matters, this includes a charging document. Judicial Officer -- A judge or a District Court commissioner. Admission -- The voluntary acknowledgement of the existence of fact facts relevant to an adversarys case. Circuit Court -- A trial court of general jurisdiction. FORC CONT CR MT More Ask a lawyer - it's free! Typically defendants enter one of the following pleas: guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere. Plaintiff -- A complaining party in a civil action. Peace Order -- An emergency form of relief or an order available to individuals who are experiencing problems with another person, including someone in a dating relationship, a neighbor, or a stranger. All rights reserved. Contempt of Court -- Failure to obey a court order. Alford Plea -- A special type of guilty plea by which the defendant does not admit guilt but concedes that the State has sufficient evidence to convict; normally made to avoid the threat of greater punishment. In the GR case, the state itself appoints lawyers for the plaintiffs, who are called public prosecutors (PPs). Court -- Judge or body of judges whose task is to hear cases and administer justice. Triple Seal -- Exemplified copy; a term referring to a certification of a court documents authenticity by signature of the clerk and seal of the court and certification by a judge of the court as to the authenticity of the clerks signature and seal; used to permit admission of the court document in a proceeding in another state under the full faith and credit provision of the U.S. Constitution. Body Attachment -- A written order issued by a court directing a sheriff or peace officer to take custody of and bring before the court: Count -- A separate charge in a charging document or separate cause of action in a civil complaint. Verification -- An oral or written statement that something is true, usually made under oath or affirmation. Appeals - Appellate Court of Maryland; Criminal Cases; Juvenile Delinquency; Remote Hearing Toolkit; Child Abuse and Neglect; Domestic Violence; Land Records; Thurgood . Defendant -- The person against whom a suit is filed, or in a criminal action, who has been charged with a violation of the law or criminal wrong doing. Common Law -- That body of law that was originated in England and was brought to the United States. Statute -- An act of the General Assembly declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something. (Also known as Reconsideration). Bail -- A sum of money or other form of security given to the court in exchange for the release of the accused from custody and to guarantee that the accused will appear in court. (Compare Public, Sealed, or Shielded Records). Also includes a command of the judge which established courtroom or administrative procedures. Oral Examination -- A request by plaintiff (judgment creditor) to discover the assets of a defendant (judgment debtor) after entry of judgment. Alias (Otherwise called) -- indicating one was called by one or the other of two names. Absconding Debtor -- A person who leaves a jurisdiction purposefully to avoid legal process. Parole -- A conditional release from imprisonment by a parole board that entitles the defendant to serve the remainder of the sentence outside of the prison as long as all of the conditions of release are met. Of no practical importance. Litigant -- A party to a lawsuit; one engaged in litigation. Prosecuting Attorney or Prosecutor -- A public officer whose duty is the prosecution of criminal proceedings on behalf of the citizens of the state; most often refers to a States Attorney or Assistant States Attorney but, for some crimes, can be the State Prosecutor or Attorney General. Shielded Record - A record or information in a record removed from public inspection by a judge or commissioner. Circuit -- A geographical area including one or more counties over which the courts jurisdiction or a judges representation extends; under Article IV, Sections 14 and 19 of the Constitution of Maryland, there are six appellate circuits in Maryland and eight trial level circuits. Attorney Information System (AIS) - Centralized Judiciary database for Attorney Information, Attorney of Record -- An attorney who represents a party and has entered an appearance in an action. Clerk -- An officer of the court who maintains case files, makes docket entries, issues process, and generally serves as the ministerial arm of the court. Line (Praecipe) (Trans: command) -- A written request by an attorney entering his/her appearance, for the client before the court. Tort (Trans: twisted) -- An injury or damage to person/or property for which the person who caused the injury is legally responsible. Trial De Novo -- From the beginning; appeal in which the reviewing court completely retries the case. Public Record -- A record maintained in a government office, such as a court record, available for inspection by the general public. Exclusive Jurisdiction -- Jurisdiction held by only one court over the type of case. CAPTCHA, Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart, is a process used by businesses and governments for information security purposes. Enforcement -- Action taken to obtain compliance with a court order. Interstate Detainer -- An arrest warrant issued on a charging document in another state and lodged with a correctional institution in Maryland in which the defendant is already detained to ensure continued detention of the defendant until delivered to the custody of the other state for prosecution on the pending charges. (Compare Probation). Exhibits -- Documents and other tangible things that are attached to a pleading or offered as evidence in a case, after being marked for identification. Record on Appeal -- The case file and its contents, together with a transcript of all proceedings in the lower court. Return -- The act of a sheriff, constable, or other ministerial officer in delivering back to the court a writ, notice, or other paper which he was required to serve or execute with a brief account of his doings under the mandate, the time and mode of service or execution or his failure to accomplish it, as the case may be. Judge -- Can be a judge of any court in this state, but most often will be a judge of the court which issued the documents you have before you, or a judge of the court having jurisdiction over the matter before you. Alford Plea -- A special type of guilty plea by which the defendant does not admit guilt but concedes that the State has sufficient evidence to convict; normally made to avoid the threat of greater punishment. Search -- A written order by a judge directed to a peace officer and commanding him to search for and seize property as described therein. Jointly and Severally -- Acting together and separately; anyone so liable can sue or be sued with or without others joining in the action. Lesser Included Offense -- A crime composed of some, but not all, of the elements of a greater crime; commission of the greater crime automatically includes commission of the lesser included offense. A material witness in a criminal case. Garnishee -- A person holding the property or assets of a judgment debtor. Remand -- An action by the court that sends a case to another court or agency for further action. Pretrial Release -- The release by a judicial officer of a defendant, prior to trial, under conditions that the judicial officer feels will reasonably assure the defendants appearance as required. Count -- A separate charge in a charging document or separate cause of action in a civil complaint. When you're done, the program automatically generates your completed forms, along with detailed instructions on what to do next. Recuse -- A judges determination of the inappropriateness of his/her hearing a particular matter. Triple Seal -- Exemplified copy; a term referring to a certification of a court documents authenticity by signature of the clerk and seal of the court and certification by a judge of the court as to the authenticity of the clerks signature and seal; used to permit admission of the court document in a proceeding in another state under the full faith and credit provision of the U.S. Constitution. Surety -- One who makes himself responsible for the defendants obligation to appear in court and agrees to pay money or do other acts in the event that the defendant does not appear. Immunity from Prosecution -- Protection from prosecution in exchange for testimony that might not otherwise by forthcoming. A party who fails to comply with a court order in a civil action. True Copy Test -- A copy of a court document given under the clerks seal, but not certified. Forfeiture -- The loss of money or property or rights to property by failing to perform a condition or obligation required by the law or court without compensation to the owner. Mandamus -- A court order compelling an individual to fulfill an official ministerial duty. Appellate Court of Maryland -- Marylands intermediate appellate court wherein review is ordinarily a matter of right. Arrest -- To deprive a person of his liberty by legal authority. (Compare Concurrent Jurisdiction). The case type has also been changed to 'CRSCA.'. Settlement Conference -- A process in which you and anyone else involved in your case meet with a neutral attorney who will help you try and find ways to settle your case. They bring: One (1) item from list A OR One (1) item from list B AND one (1) item from List C Pay Period. U.S. District Court -- Federal trial court with general jurisdiction. Stet (Trans: to stand) -- A conditional stay of all further proceedings in a case. Certiorari (writ of) (Trans: to be more fully informed) -- The process by which an appellate court calls for the records of a case from a lower court for review. Suppress -- To stop, prohibit, prevent, subdue; with respect to evidence, to prevent its use by showing it was obtained illegally or is irrelevant. Opinion -- The statement of the courts decision in a case, setting out the reasons for the decision. However, at any time, a traffic case record can be pulled from the history database back into Case Search by the clerk's office. It borders Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. Appearance -- A coming into the court in person or by filing a paper, as plaintiff, defendant, or legal representative. For example, when the validity of the will is at issue, or the will is lost, stolen or damaged. Commitment Order -- A court order directing that a person be kept in custody, usually in a penal or mental facility. Scroll to read through the Local Rules of Court abbreviations on this page, OR use the links below to jump to a specific division, OR use control F to search this page . Person -- Any individual, partnership, joint stock company, unincorporated association or society, municipal or other corporation, the State, its agencies or political subdivisions, or any other governmental entity. Subpoena -- A writ issued by a court that compels a person to appear and give testimony at a specified time and place. Statement of Charges -- A charging document, other than a citation, filed in District Court by a peace officer or by a judicial officer. In Forma Pauperis -- Frequently used by inmates filing papers to seek waiver of prepayment of filing fees in State courts. What are the various abbreviations for court cases in Maryland? Commitment Order -- A court order directing that a person be kept in custody, usually in a penal or mental facility. Since 1658, the office of Clerk of Court has provided the citizens of Maryland with a variety of essential services. Emergency Family Maintenance -- A monetary award that can be ordered by the court in a domestic violence case when the respondent has a duty to support his/her spouse and/or children. Appellee -- A party against whom an appeal is taken. Please Note: Updated or new information is highlighted. Escrow -- The placing of money, a deed, or real property in the hands of a third party to be held until the performance of a condition. Witness -- One who testifies to what he has seen, heard, or otherwise observed and who is not necessarily a party to the action. Also the endorsement made by the officer upon the writ or other paper stating what he has done under it, the time and mode of service etc. Consecutive Sentences -- Upon conviction of multiple counts/charges in one or more cases, sentences must be served one after the other, rather than at the same time (see: concurrent sentence). Appellant -- The party who takes an appeal from one court to another. Jury Trial Prayer -- A case that was originally filed in the District Court, but for which a trial by jury in the Circuit Court is requested. (Compare Public Record or Confidential Record). (Also known as an Oral Examination; formally known as Supplementary Proceeding in aid of enforcement of judgment.). Bench Warrant -- A warrant issued by a judge for the arrest of a defendant for failure to appear in court as required.