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The court system in Montgomery County is headquartered in the county seat, Rockville. Here is a brief overview of the legal system:

District and Circuit Court
There are two levels of trial courts: the state-run District Court, operating in Rockville and Silver Spring, and the county-run Circuit Court of Montgomery County (part of Maryland's 6th Judicial Circuit with Frederick) in Rockville.
Generally speaking, the District Court handles small claims cases, as well as misdemeanors and felonies with penalties of less than three years in jail or up to $2,500 in fines. Speeding, red light running, drunk driving and landlord-tenant cases are generally heard here.
All trials in District Court are argued before a judge; the court hears no jury trials.
The Circuit Court handles major civil and criminal cases, family law cases such as divorce and custody, and appeals from the District Court. It is the only court in the county to have jury trials.
Juvenile Court is part of the Circuit Court, but is temporarily housed at District Court in Rockville until the Circuit Court is expanded.
The county's District Court has 15 judges, including Administrative Judge Eugene Wolfe. More information can be found at www.courts.state.md.us/district.
The county's Circuit Court has 19 judges, including County Administrative Judge Ann S. Harrington. More information can be found at www.courts.state.md.us/circuit/ index.html.

State's Attorney's Office
The state's attorney for Montgomery County serves an elected four-year term. John McCarthy (D) was elected to the office in 2006.

Courthouses
Main District Courthouse
27 Courthouse Square
Rockville, MD 20850

Administrative clerk
301-279-1520
Civil office: 301-279-1500

Criminal, traffic office: 301-279-1565
Child Support: 800-332-6347
Jury duty questions: 240-777-9090
The Juvenile Office, which is part of the Circuit Court but located in the District Courthouse: 240-777-9530

Silver Spring District Courthouse
8552 2nd Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-563-8500

Circuit Court of Montgomery County Judicial Center
50 Maryland Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850
Clerk's Office: 240-777-9400

State's Attorney's Office Judicial Center
5th Floor
50 Maryland Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850
240-777-7300

Lawyer Services
Bar Association of Montgomery County
27 W. Jefferson St.
Rockville, MD 20850
301-424-3454
www.montbar.org
The bar foundation offers help to people who meet certain income guidelines.

Lawyer Referral Service
301-279-9100
Pro Bono Program
301-424-7651

The Office of the Public Defender (criminal cases only)
Office hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday
199-P E. Montgomery Ave.,
Rockville, MD 20850
240-773-9601

Other organizations
CASA de Maryland
734 East University Blvd.
Silver Spring, MD 20903
301-431-4185
www.casademaryland.org
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday for employment. CASA works to inform immigrants and workers about essential workplace rights and strategies to protect themselves. It also hosts legal rights orientation workshops and focuses on the rights of domestic workers.

Legal Aid Bureaus Montgomery Satellite Office
51 Monroe St.
Rockville, MD 20850
Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday
240-314-0373 or
888-215-5316
www.mdlab.org

Spanish Catholic Center
7949 15th Ave.
Hyattsville, MD 20783
301-434-6453
The community center provides information, resources, social services and runs a clinic.

Clinic
1015 University Blvd. East
Silver Spring, MD 20902
301-431-2368 x218
For pediatrics: 301-434-3999
Clinic hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday
The social services aspect of the center is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday: 301-434-6453

Spanish Catholic Center
415 E. Diamond Ave.
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
301-417-9113 or
301-740-2523
The center provides immigration information, English classes and other social services, call ahead. Hours are: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday

TESS Community Service Center
Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday–Friday. The center also reopens 6-9 p.m. every Wednesday for legal matters only.
8513 Piney Branch Road
Silver Spring, MD 20901
301-565-7675

Charles W. Gilchrist Center For Cultural Diversity
The center offers immigration advice, health services, English classes and other resources.
11319 Elkin St.
Wheaton, MD 20902
240-777-4940
The center's office hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Upcounty Satellite Region
12900 Middlebrook Road
Germantown, MD 20874
240-777-6940