budget is indicated by the size of the annual re-
quest. In fiscal year 1987, total budgeted expendi-
tures amounted to $8,182,965,806, or more than
$1,940 for every man, woman, and child resident
in the state.

The Judicial Branch is responsible for the reso-
lution of all matters involving civil and criminal
law in the State of Maryland. Judges base their
decisions on statutory law, common law, or equi-
ty. As the population of Maryland has grown and
society has become more complex, the judiciary
has been reshaped to more effectively and effi-
ciently deal with litigation and other matters re-
quiring judicial determination. What has evolved
is a four-tiered court system consisting of the Dis-
trict Courts, Circuit Courts, the Court of Special
Appeals, and the Court of Appeals.

The District Court of Maryland, implemented
in 1971 on a statewide basis in every county in the
state and Baltimore City, is a court of limited ju-
risdiction that replaced the earlier local justices of
the peace and county trial magistrates. The Dis-
trict Courts have jurisdiction in minor civil and
criminal matters and in virtually all violations of
the state Motor Vehicle Law. District Court judg-
es are appointed by the governor for ten-year
terms.

The Circuit Courts have original jurisdiction
over more serious criminal and civil cases and al-
so hear Appeals from decisions in the District
Court. Circuit Court judges are nominated by spe-
cial judicial selection commissions and appointed
by the governor with the consent of the Senate.
At the first statewide election occurring at least
one year after their appointment, Circuit Court
judges must successfully stand for election to con-
tinue in office for a term of fifteen years.

The Court of Special Appeals is the second
highest court in Maryland. Like the state's highest
court, the Court of Special Appeals is an appellate
court. It was established by constitutional amend-
ment in 1966 to ease the caseload of the Court of
Appeals and to facilitate resolution of cases re-
quiring appellate adjudication. Composed of thir-
teen judges, members of the Court of Special Ap-
peals are appointed by the governor with the
consent of the Senate for ten-year terms, subject
to approval of the voters at the next election after
their appointment. The Court of Special Appeals
has exclusive initial appellate jurisdiction over any
reviewable judgment, decree, order, or other ac-
tion of a Circuit Court, except for appeals in
criminal cases in which the death penalty is im-
posed.

The Court of Appeals has a long history in
Maryland, dating from the first state constitution
adopted in 1777. The Court of Appeals is the
state's highest court, and the cases it reviews are
limited to those of major importance where the
decisions rendered bear largely on the proper con-
stitutional interpretation of the law. The seven
judges of the Court of Appeals, appointed by the
governor with the consent of the Senate, serve
ten-year terms. Like judges of the Court of Special
Appeals, judges of the Court of Appeals must win
approval of the electorate at the first election oc-
curring at least one year after their appointment.

Various units, boards, and commissions exist
within the judiciary to facilitate operation of the
department and to assist judges of the different
courts. The Judicial Nominating Commissions
present names to the governor when vacancies oc-
cur on any of the appellate or circuit courts. The
Maryland State Law Library is the principal law
reference library in the state. Also within the Ju-
diciary Department are the State Board of Law
Examiners, which conducts examinations for pro-
spective members of the State Bar, and the Attor-
ney Grievance Commission, charged with su-
pervising and administering the discipline of
attorneys.

The three branches of state government—the
executive, legislative, and judicial—act to pre-
serve, protect, and extend the privileges and obli-
gations provided to the citizens of Maryland by
the state Constitution. All three branches re-
present the interests of the citizens of the State in
their relations with other states and the federal
government, and each works closely with and sup-
plements the services of local, municipal, and
county administrations. The checks and balances
provided by the Constitution of Maryland ensure
a certain beneficial degree of tension and proprie-
torship among the three branches of State govern-
ment, and each carefully guards its prerogatives.
The fundamental goal of State government as a
whole, however, is to serve the public interest. It
is thus the citizens themselves who ultimately de-
termine, through periodic elections, referenda,
and amendments to the Constitution itself, the
policies, functions, and extent of the government
of the State of Maryland.