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Local Rule 501

Local Rule 501 governs the assignment of civil cases among the two divisions of this Court.  To ensure compliance with Local Rule 501, all complaints must include the county of residence of any Maryland parties in the caption. Cases in which no party is a resident of Maryland will be assigned to judges sitting in the division where the events allegedly giving rise to the claim(s) set forth in the complaint occurred. For the purpose of remedying any imbalance in caseload, the Court may direct any case be assigned to any judge regardless of the division where the judge sits.

For guidance, Local Rule 501.4, which applies to all non-removal or prisoner civil cases, is reproduced below.

Other civil cases shall be assigned in accordance with the provisions set forth in this paragraph, with priority accorded to the first provision that may be applicable. Any questions about a particular assignment shall be decided by the Court.

a) Cases Involving Government Agencies

i) A case in which a Maryland local government or agency is a party shall be assigned to a judge sitting in the division of the Court in which the principal office of the local government or agency is located.

ii) A case in which the United States, the State of Maryland, or one of their agencies and a non-governmental entity or individual residing in Maryland are opposing parties shall be assigned to a judge sitting in the division of the Court in which the non-governmental party resides.

b) Cases Involving Maryland Residents

i) A case in which all of the Maryland parties reside in the same division (a corporation’s residence shall be its principal place of business in Maryland) shall be assigned to a judge sitting in that division.

ii) A case in which the Maryland parties reside in different divisions of the Court shall be assigned to a judge sitting in the division where a majority of the Maryland parties reside, but if there is not a majority resident in either division, then the case shall be assigned to a judge sitting in the division of the Court in which the events described in the Complaint took place.

iii) A class action shall be assigned to a judge sitting in the division of the Court where a majority of the named plaintiffs reside, but if there is not a majority resident in either division, then the case shall be assigned to a judge sitting in the division of the Court in which the events described in the Complaint took place.

c) Cases in Which No Party Resides in Maryland

A case in which no party is a resident of Maryland shall be assigned to a judge sitting in the division in which the events described in the Complaint took place.