Md. Rule 16-104 (2026)

(a) Designation. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall designate, from among the incumbent judges in each judicial circuit, a Circuit Administrative Judge for each judicial circuit, to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Chief Justice. The Circuit Administrative Judge shall serve also as the County Administrative Judge of the circuit court for the county within which the judge resides.

(b) Duties. Subject to the provisions of this Chapter and to the direction of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Circuit Administrative Judge is generally responsible for the overall administration of the circuit courts within the judicial circuit, and for matters that may affect more than one of those courts. In carrying out those responsibilities, the Circuit Administrative Judge:

(1) may perform, on a temporary basis, any of the duties of a County Administrative Judge for a circuit court within the judicial circuit in the absence of the County Administrative Judge or acting County Administrative Judge for that court;

(2) after consulting with the County Administrative Judges in the circuit, may direct the assignment of magistrates appointed on a circuit-wide basis among the courts within the circuit as judicial business requires; and

(3) shall convene a meeting of all of the circuit court judges within the judicial circuit at least once every six months. The meeting may be conducted in person or by video, telephonic, or other electronic means.

(c) Delegation of Authority.

(1) Designation of Acting Circuit Administrative Judge. A Circuit Administrative Judge may designate another County Administrative Judge in the same circuit to serve as Acting Circuit Administrative Judge during the temporary absence of the Circuit Administrative Judge.

(2) Delegation of Certain Duties. A Circuit Administrative Judge may delegate to another County Administrative Judge in the same circuit, with that County Administrative Judge's agreement, some or all of the responsibilities of the Circuit Administrative Judge under Rules 2-327 (d), 2-551 (a), and 4-352.

Source: This Rule is derived in part from former Rule 16-101 c (2016) and is in part new.

Credits

[Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. July 1, 2016. Amended April 21, 2023, eff. nunc pro tunc April 1, 2023; Feb. 23, 2026, eff. July 1, 2026.]