Montgomery County Courthouses

Montgomery County Courthouses date back to the year 1777. Between 1777 and 1779, the first court sessions were held — in a tavern. The first genuine courthouse building was built in 1785, a second courthouse in 1840, and a third building, the Red Brick Courthouse, in 1891. In 1929, a new Indiana limestone building was constructed. Today, the Montgomery County Circuit Court is located in the County Government Complex and consists of the 1929 old District Court building, the renovated Red Brick Courthouse, the nine-story Judicial Building, the Executive Office Building, and the recently-completed Montgomery County Circuit Court South Tower (formerly The Annex). There is also a second District Court location in Silver Spring.

Mission and Components

The Montgomery County Circuit Court’s mission is “to serve the Sixth Judicial Circuit residents in the determination of litigation in serious criminal matters, substantive civil cases, domestic and child support cases in accordance with the Constitution while administering justice in an honest, fair, and efficient manner.” The court handles serious criminal cases and major civil cases and is the only court in Montgomery County that has authority to conduct jury trials. The Circuit Court also includes the Drug Court. This is a program for adults who have serious alcohol-dependency/drug issues. The objective of the program is to “to assist program participants to address the root cause of the problem — drug/alcohol addiction — and to end the cycle of addiction that leads to crime.” Currently, 22 judges serve Montgomery County Circuit Court, along with five Family Masters and one Special Master.

Services

The various services offered by the Montgomery Circuit Court and its staff include the Clerk of Courts office (jury selection and court scheduling), courtrooms for judges and masters, office of the court administrator, office of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), the Family Law Help Center, the Child Custody and Access Mediation Program, and Transcripts and Translation services.

The Family Law Center helps those who choose to represent themselves in court in minor family disputes; an attorney is recommended for issues like domestic violence and child custody.

You can purchase transcripts of court proceedings (electronic and print versions) as well as video and audio recordings. Contact the Technical Services area in the North Tower.

Mediation is currently assigned to all civil and family cases rather than traditional adversary/court method. The office of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) administers the mediation process and meetings takes place in the individual mediator’s office or at alternative locations in the court complex.

The Child Custody and Access Mediation Program helps parents through separation/divorce and child custody issues. The office is in the South Tower, first floor.

Transportation to the Court Complex

The complex is located at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville and is bound by Maryland Avenue to the west, Jefferson Street to the south, and Monroe Street to the east. By car, follow these directions:

  • From I-270. Take Exit 5, Falls Road, toward Rockville. From I-270 North, bear to the right off the ramp heading towards downtown Rockville. From I-270 South, bear to the left off the exit ramp towards Rockville. Remain in the left lane; the road becomes Maryland Avenue. Go through two traffic lights and cross East Jefferson Street (Route 28). The Maryland Avenue entrance to the courthouse is on the right.
  • From Route 355. From Route 355 South on Hungerford Drive, turn right into Monroe Place. Travel across Monroe Street to the Monroe Street entrance. From Route 355 North on Rockville Pike, remain in the left lane; turn left into Jefferson Street (Route 28). Remain in the right lane and turn right into Maryland Avenue.  The Maryland Avenue entrance is on the right.

If you are using public transportation, you can take Metrorail, Metrobus and the Ride On Bus to the Courthouse Complex.

There is also a second District Court located at 8552 Second Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland. It is easily accessible via public transportation using The Bus, Metrobus/Metrorail, and the MARC train. There are also public lots nearby where drivers are able to park their vehicles.

Parking

If you are serving on a jury in Rockville, have your Summons to Appear for Jury Service with you for free jury parking. You can park on Monroe Street between Fleet Street and Jefferson Street (Route 28). The Council Office Building has additional free jury parking at the Council Office Building garage (corner of Monroe and Jefferson Streets).

Metered street parking is available around the courthouse (a quarter for 15 minutes, two-hour limit). You can also park in various private parking lots and structures including a public garage at 51 Monroe Street, at the Courthouse Square Building and at 255 Rockville Pike.

Handicapped parking is available for the Red Brick Courthouse and the old District Court building on Jefferson Street (Route 28) between Maryland Avenue and Washington Street.

If you have been charged for DUI in Montgomery County, a dedicated traffic or DUI defense attorney is available to give you more information about the charges you are facing and the judicial system that governs the legal process.