Anne Arundel County Courthouse
There are three courthouses in Anne Arundel County; one is a circuit court, while the other two are district courthouses. The two district courthouse locations are in Annapolis and Glen Burnie, Maryland, while the circuit court is located in Annapolis.
The district court in Glen Burnie is located on Governor Ritchie Highway. The district court in Annapolis is located on Rowe Boulevard right next to the Navy Football Stadium. The circuit court is located in downtown Annapolis on Church Circle right near the legislature and near downtown. To find out where your case is being heard consult with an Anne Arundel criminal defense lawyer today.
Planning Ahead For Your Courthouse Appearance
Anytime a person has to appear in court, they should dress like lawyers would. When a person is standing with their attorney in front of the judge, the judge should be unable to tell who the attorney is and who the client is. When planning ahead, a person should have a professional outfit available for any court appearance.
In terms of cell phones, a person can bring their cell phone in to court as long as it’s silent. The bailiffs will not prevent a person from bringing a cell phone into the courthouse or even into the courtroom, but they will insist that it is on silent mode. If a phone does go off, the bailiffs will likely confiscate the cell phone and the person will not get it back until the end of the day.
The Day of A Court Appearance
A person should plan to arrive in court approximately 30 minutes before their case is scheduled to begin. Most court notices will provide a person with a time 30 minutes prior to when the judge will actually hear the case. This means that if the judge is scheduled to be done with another case at 9:00 a.m., an individual’s court notice will often say to arrive at 8:30 a.m. This is to ensure that a person is not late for their appearance. If a person is scheduled for a morning appearance, the courthouse often will not open more than 30 minutes before the scheduled court appearance.
A person should also not worry about parking. Both district court locations in Anne Arundel County have parking lots, while the circuit court has garages and free street parking.
Cases Heard at the Anne Arundel County Courthouse
All different types of cases are heard at the Anne Arundel County Courthouses. The district courts will generally hear misdemeanors and small claims. The circuit court will hear felony cases, cases where there’s a lot of money at stake, as well as juvenile cases.
Contact an Anne Arundel County Attorney Today
If you are scheduled to appear before a judge in Anne Arundel County, it is important to have someone by your side who is familiar with the court system and has experience representing others who have faced similar charges. The more familiar a lawyer is with a particular courthouse, the more likely they have a professional relationship with the judges and prosecutors which can be an asset for your case. Do not hesitate to taking the first step to defending yourself.