Ex Parte -- On one side only, by or for one party; done for, in behalf of, or on the application of, one party only. Nolle Prosequi (Nol Pros) (Trans: to be unwilling to proceed) -- A formal motion in a case by the States Attorney, indicating that the charges will not be prosecuted. The first name is not required. Title 11. Modified Administration (MA) - A procedure available when the residual legatees consists of the personal representative, spouse; and children. Incompetency -- Lack of capacity to understand the nature and object of the proceedings, to consult with counsel, and to assist in preparing a defense. Cross-examination -- Examination of one partys witness by the other party. Custody Case -- The type of proceeding in which the court determines which parent, other adult, or agency shall have physical control over a child. Non-issue. Marital Property -- The property, however titled, acquired by one or both parties during the marriage. Triple Seal -- Exemplified copy; a term referring to a certification of a court documents authenticity by signature of the clerk and seal of the court and certification by a judge of the court as to the authenticity of the clerks signature and seal; used to permit admission of the court document in a proceeding in another state under the full faith and credit provision of the U.S. Constitution. Writ of Garnishment of Wages -- An order of court commanding that a portion of the defendants wages are deducted regularly and paid to the plaintiff to satisfy a judgment. Nolo Contendere (Trans: I will not contest it.) -- The name of a plea in a criminal action having the same legal effect as a plea of guilty so far as regards all proceedings in the case and on which the defendant may be sentenced. Incarceration -- Imprisonment; confinement in a jail or penitentiary. Hicks Waiver -- Waiver of the defendants right to a speedy trial, which is 180 days from the defendants initial appearance, in person or by attorney. Writ of Execution -- An order of court commanding performance of a specified act or granting authority to have the action done. Exhibits -- Documents and other tangible things that are attached to a pleading or offered as evidence in a case, after being marked for identification. True Copy Test -- A copy of a court document given under the clerks seal, but not certified. Lesser Included Offense -- A crime composed of some, but not all, of the elements of a greater crime; commission of the greater crime automatically includes commission of the lesser included offense. On motion of the States Attorney, the court may indefinitely postpone trial of a charge by marking the charge stet on the docket. Lien -- A claim upon the real property of another for some debt; the property remains in the defendants possession. Eviction -- Action taken to legally dispossess a person of land or property. This is the two week period that an employee works and then is paid for. (Compare Probation). Certiorari (writ of) (Trans: to be more fully informed) -- The process by which an appellate court calls for the records of a case from a lower court for review. Mandate -- The judgment issued upon the decision of an appellate court. Public Record -- A record maintained in a government office, such as a court record, available for inspection by the general public. Bail Bondsman -- The authorized agent of a surety insurer. Ecitation -- The electronic version of the MD Uniform Complaint and Citation (traffic citation). Scroll to read through the Local Rules of Court abbreviations on this page, OR use the links below to jump to a specific division, OR use control F to search this page . 2 attorney answers Posted on Feb 10, 2018 These are the acronyms given for the Clerks' offices to categorize different types of cases. Circuit Court -- A trial court of general jurisdiction. The purpose of this bond is to assure that the appellant will prosecute his appeal and will appear in court. Modifications can be ordered in open and closed cases. Rebuttal -- The act of contradicting or overcoming the effect of a presumption or evidence. Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader appoints Judy Rupp state court administrator for the Maryland Judiciary. Service -- Delivery of a writ, notice, injunction, etc., by an authorized person, to a person who is thereby officially notified of some action or proceeding in which the person is concerned. Commitment Order -- A court order directing that a person be kept in custody, usually in a penal or mental facility. Mandamus -- A court order compelling an individual to fulfill an official ministerial duty. In Propria Persona -- in ones own proper person; a party choosing to represent himself or herself without the benefit of an attorney; pro se. Plea Agreement -- Agreement between the prosecutor and the defendant to exchange a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for reduction in the charge(s) or leniency in sentencing. Common Abbreviations Used in Criminal Record Reports This list should be used only as a guide in interpreting criminal record information. Shielded Record -- A record or information in a record removed from public inspection by a judge or commissioner. Search -- A written order by a judge directed to a peace officer and commanding him to search for and seize property as described therein. Sua Sponte --Of its own will; commonly when a judge does something without being so requested by any party in a case. Ct. Spec. Writ of Garnishment of Property -- An order of court commanding that a defendants assets be seized and the money paid to the plaintiff to satisfy a judgment. (Compare Revision of Sentence). Surety -- One who makes himself responsible for the defendants obligation to appear in court and agrees to pay money or do other acts in the event that the defendant does not appear. Alford Plea -- A special type of guilty plea by which the defendant does not admit guilt but concedes that the State has sufficient evidence to convict; normally made to avoid the threat of greater punishment. The first name is not required. Civil-- Criminal-- Family-- Juvenile-- Probate-- General. 2. Custodia Legis -- In the custody of the law; property that has been lawfully taken, by authority of legal process, and remains in the possession of a public officer or an officer of a court empowered by law to hold the property. Appearance -- A coming into the court in person or by filing a paper, as plaintiff, defendant, or legal representative. Prayer for a Jury Trial -- Request of a defendant in certain cases to be tried by a jury. Attorney Information System (AIS) - Centralized Judiciary database for Attorney Information, Attorney of Record -- An attorney who represents a party and has entered an appearance in an action. Appearance -- A coming into the court in person or by filing a paper, as plaintiff, defendant, or legal representative. Garnishee -- A person holding the property or assets of a judgment debtor. Appeal Bond -- A type of bond set by the court and filed by the appellant until the cause can be passed upon and disposed of by the superior court. Burden of Proof -- The necessity of proving facts at issue in Maryland, the criminal burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt; the civil burden of proof is by a preponderance of the evidence, or sometimes by clear and convincing evidence.. Abated by Death -- The disposition of a charge due to death of the defendant. Non Est (Inventus) (Trans: not to be found) -- the sheriffs return of process when service is not made because the person was not found. Disposition -- Determination of the final arrangement or settlement of a case following judgment. This quick reference is not produced by or affiliated with the State of Maryland. Appellate Jurisdiction -- the authority that a higher court has to review cases decided in a lower court; the Supreme Court of Maryland, Appellate Court of Maryland, and circuit courts have appellate jurisdiction. Line (Praecipe) (Trans: command) -- A written request by an attorney entering his/her appearance, for the client before the court. Crime -- A positive or negative act in violation of penal law; an offense against the state classified either as a felony or misdemeanor. Pleadings -- The formal allegations by the parties of their respective claims and defenses for the judgment of the court; in criminal matters, this includes a charging document. Felony -- A serious criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or death. Jury Trial Prayer -- A case that was originally filed in the District Court, but for which a trial by jury in the Circuit Court is requested. Public Record -- A record maintained in a government office, such as a court record, available for inspection by the general public. Police Record -- All official records that a law enforcement unit, booking facility, or the Central Repository maintains about the arrest and detention of, or further proceeding against, a person for a criminal charge, a suspected violation of a criminal law, or a violation of the Transportation Article for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed. Docket -- A list of the cases to be heard in the court; or a formal record of courts activity. Docket Number -- Case number; the designation assigned to each case filed in a particular court. The defendant is also advised of right to counsel, referred to the Public Defender, if eligible, and informed that further appearance in court without counsel is deemed to be a waiver of counsel. Limited Order (LO) A limited order to locate assets or a will. 1. in a criminal action, failure to appear may result in a bench warrant being issued for the persons arrest. Probable Cause -- Information given to a judicial officer that is sufficient in itself to warrant the issuance of a charging document. Certiorari (writ of) (Trans: to be more fully informed) -- The process by which an appellate court calls for the records of a case from a lower court for review. Modification -- (a change or alteration) An order changing the terms of a prior order of the Court. 3. Habeas Corpus (Trans: you have the body) -- A writ which brings a person before a court. Exception -- A formal objection to an action of the court during trial, evidencing the objecting partys disagreement with the courts ruling and preserving the matter for review on appeal. GR cases are usually filed with the police. An order entered by a judge suspending or postponing a proceeding or execution of an action before the Court. Jury -- A group of 12 citizens assembled to hear evidence at trial and make a unanimous decision as to guilt or innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. Change of Venue -- The transfer or removal of a civil or criminal case from one judicial district to another. Use the clear button to clear all fields and begin your search again. (Compare Public, Sealed, or Shielded Records). All criminal traffic charges are heard de novo in the circuit court. . A verified final report is filed within 10 months from the date of appointment. Adjudication -- A judgment or decision of a court or jury regarding a case. Latest News. Hearsay -- Evidence offered by a witness based on what others have said. and prior criminal record of the defendant and, in certain cases, a victim impact statement. Consecutive Sentences -- Upon conviction of multiple counts/charges in one or more cases, sentences must be served one after the other, rather than at the same time (see: concurrent sentence). 959 P.2d 128 (1998), the officer's use of . Felony -- A serious criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or death. Suspend -- To set aside all or part of a sentence. Count -- A separate charge in a charging document or separate cause of action in a civil complaint. Of no practical importance. U.S. Court of Appeals -- Federal appellate court having jurisdiction over actions decided in the U.S. District Court. Levy -- A setting aside of the defendants property made by the sheriff or constable; this property is placed in custody of law. Motor Vehicle (MV) - Transfer of motor vehicle only. Explore the common criminal charge abbreviations used with juveniles. Petition for Expungement -- A written request for expungement of Court and police records. All rights reserved. Minor -- An individual under the age of 18 (eighteen) years. Interstate Detainer -- An arrest warrant issued on a charging document in another state and lodged with a correctional institution in Maryland in which the defendant is already detained to ensure continued detention of the defendant until delivered to the custody of the other state for prosecution on the pending charges. Accused -- The person against whom an accusation is made. A warrant issued in connection with an indictment or information is still active (unless the warrant remains unserved for one year or longer) Parties must keep the Clerk's Office notified of current mailing address (es) in all pending cases. 1. Upon entry of a dismissal, except a dismissal without prejudice, the matter has effectively ended. Presentment Before Grand Jury -- Presentation of evidence, including testimony of witnesses, by the States Attorney to the grand jury to establish probable cause that the accused committed the alleged offense and to seek issuance of an indictment. Surety Bond -- A bond posted by a surety insurer ensuring that the penalty sum will be paid if the conditions of the bond are not satisfied. Citations are entered in the issuing officer's patrol car and a copy is given to the violator. (Compare Public, Sealed, or Confidential Record). Res Gestae -- Things done; rule under which a remark made spontaneously and concurrently with an incident carries an inherent degree of credibility and is admissible because of its spontaneous nature (excited utterance); an exception to the hearsay rule. Sealed Record -- A record closed by a court to further inspection by anyone unless ordered by the court. However, at any time, a traffic case record can be pulled from the history database back into Case Search by the clerk's office. Abbreviations Used in the Local Rules of Court, by Division. Petty Offense -- An offense the penalty for which does not exceed imprisonment for a period of three months or a fine of five hundred dollars. Defendant -- The person against whom a suit is filed, or in a criminal action, who has been charged with a violation of the law or criminal wrong doing. Common Law -- That body of law that was originated in England and was brought to the United States. Probation -- A means of conditionally releasing an individual after trial. (Also known as Reconsideration). Not included are records pertaining to nonincarcerable violations of the Maryland vehicle laws or other traffic law, ordinance, or regulation, published opinions of the Court, cash receipt and disbursement records necessary for audit purposes; or a Court reporters transcript of proceedings involving multiple defendants. Moot -- Issue previously decided or settled. Intrastate Detainer -- An arrest warrant issued on a charging document in Maryland and lodged with a correctional institution in Maryland in which the defendant is already in custody for the same or another offense to ensure continued detention of the defendant until processed on the charges underlying the warrant. Pending -- Cases that are awaiting further action. Examination in Aid of Enforcement of Judgment -- A request by plaintiff (judgment creditor) to discover the assets of a defendant (judgment debtor) after entry of judgment. Enforcement -- Action taken to obtain compliance with a court order. District Court in St. Mary's County website See all District Court locations, contact information, directions, and more. On motion of the States Attorney, the court may indefinitely postpone trial of a charge by marking the charge stet on the docket. Citation -- A charging document, other than an indictment, information, or statement of charges, issued to a defendant by a peace officer or other person authorized by law to do so. Show Cause -- A process directed to a person to appear in court and present reasons why a certain order, judgment, or decree should not be made final. Plaintiff -- A complaining party in a civil action. Subpoena -- A writ issued by a court that compels a person to appear and give testimony at a specified time and place. Presentment Before Grand Jury -- Presentation of evidence, including testimony of witnesses, by the States Attorney to the grand jury to establish probable cause that the accused committed the alleged offense and to seek issuance of an indictment. Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) -- A conditional avoidance of imposition of sentence after conviction; failure to satisfy the terms and conditions may cause imposition of sentence after a finding of violation of probation. The Maryland Judiciary strives to protect the integrity of the information regarding cases and respective parties stored in its applications and systems. NonProbate (NP) - Property of the decedent which passes by operation of law such as a joint tenancy, tenants by the entireties, or property passing under a deed or trust, revocable or irrevocable. Bill of Particulars -- A demand by a defendant in writing, unless otherwise ordered by the court, seeking specific factual details about a civil complaint or criminal charge; in a criminal case, the purpose of the bill of particulars is to guard against the taking of an accused by surprise by limiting the scope of the proof. Counter Complaint -- A claim filed by a defendant in a civil case against the plaintiff. Deposition -- Pretrial examination of a witness on written or oral questions answered under oath, used to discover the witness testimony in preparation for trial, and admissible at trial in lieu of live testimony if the witness is unavailable or refused to testify. The case type has also been changed to 'CRSCA.'. App. Petty Offense -- An offense the penalty for which does not exceed imprisonment for a period of three months or a fine of five hundred dollars. (Compare Removal). Copyright 2023 Maryland Judiciary. Stet (Trans: to stand) -- A conditional stay of all further proceedings in a case. Ordinance -- The enactments of the legislative body of a local government. The abbreviations and comment codes are explained below. Levy -- A setting aside of the defendants property made by the sheriff or constable; this property is placed in custody of law. It also includes a probable cause determination on a warrantless arrest and advice of preliminary hearing in felony cases. Stet (Trans: to stand) -- A conditional stay of all further proceedings in a case. Non Est (Inventus) (Trans: not to be found) -- the sheriffs return of process when service is not made because the person was not found. Alias (Otherwise called) -- indicating one was called by one or the other of two names. Sentence -- The judgment of court after conviction awarding punishment. Shielded Record - A record or information in a record removed from public inspection by a judge or commissioner. A claim by one party against a co-party. Exception -- A formal objection to an action of the court during trial, evidencing the objecting partys disagreement with the courts ruling and preserving the matter for review on appeal. Stay -- Hold in abeyance. Although the FBI does publish a standard list, many abbreviations are the result of local court "ingenuity." This list of Bail Bond -- A written obligation of a defendant, with or without a surety or collateral security, conditioned on the appearance of a defendant as required and providing for the payment of a penalty sum according to its terms; includes a surety bond posted by a surety insurer or bail bondsman and backed by the insurers pledge; a cash bond secured by deposited cash; a property bond secured by pledged personal property or a lien on real property; and/or an unsecured bond. Contract --A written or verbal agreement for the exchange of goods or services between at least two parties. Co-defendant -- One of multiple persons named in the same civil complaint or charged in the same criminal charging document. Transfer -- In a criminal case, a change of location (venue) of the case to another location in which charges are pending and to which the defendant has pled guilty or nolo contendere, to permit the defendant to similarly plead to the transferred charges, and have sentence imposed as to all the charges. Certified Mail -- Mail deposited with the US Postal Service, with postage prepaid and return receipt requested. With a total land area of 12,407 square miles (32,130 km 2), Maryland is the 8th-smallest state by land area, but its . Law Enforcement Unit -- A State, county, or municipal police department or unit, the office of a Sheriff, the office of a States Attorney, or the office of the Attorney General of the State. Government, Tracking, Management. Supplementary Proceedings -- Proceedings supplementary to an execution, directed to the discovery of a debtors property and the application of the property to the debt for which the execution is issued. Custody -- The detainment of a person by virtue of lawful process or authority; actual imprisonment. States Attorney -- A person authorized to prosecute an offense on behalf of the State or a political subdivision thereof. Contempt, Civil -- Noncompliance with a court order or rule that affects another person; punishment is administered to compel compliance. Guardianship Estate (GE) - Guardianship of property for a minor. District Court -- Lowest State trial court; a court of limited jurisdiction. Person -- Any individual, partnership, joint stock company, unincorporated association or society, municipal or other corporation, the State, its agencies or political subdivisions, or any other governmental entity. Statement of Charges -- A charging document, other than a citation, filed in District Court by a peace officer or by a judicial officer. Citation -- A charging document, other than an indictment, information, or statement of charges, issued to a defendant by a peace officer or other person authorized by law to do so. Marital Property -- The property, however titled, acquired by one or both parties during the marriage. Statute -- An act of the General Assembly declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something. Affiant -- The person who makes and signs an affidavit. Schedule No.2330 Records Retention and Disposal Schedule for Maryland Circuit Courts Table of Contents 1) Background Introduction 2) Mandatory Minimum Retention Periods 3) Identification of Retention Period 4) Review and Sorting of Records 5) Destroying Non-Permanent Records 6 T ran sf er rin g Pe rm a ne nt R ec or ds to S ta te A rch iv Supplementary Proceedings -- Proceedings supplementary to an execution, directed to the discovery of a debtors property and the application of the property to the debt for which the execution is issued. Guilty -- The word used by an accused in pleading to the charges when he confesses to committing the crime of which he is charged. Attorney Information System (AIS) - Centralized Judiciary database for Attorney Information, Attorney of Record -- An attorney who represents a party and has entered an appearance in an action. Exclusive Jurisdiction -- Jurisdiction held by only one court over the type of case. Merged -- The absorption of a lesser included offense into a more serious offense. Third Party Claim -- A defendant may cause a summons and complaint to be served upon a person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to the defendant for all or part of a plaintiffs claim against the defendant. Guilty -- The word used by an accused in pleading to the charges when he confesses to committing the crime of which he is charged. Commitment Order -- A court order directing that a person be kept in custody, usually in a penal or mental facility. Anyway, I have been looking at the Case Search for the past year and the case has been listed the same, active. Central Repository -- The Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Writ of Habeas Corpus -- A court order compelling a Warden/Sheriff to bring a prisoner before a court at a specific date and time, most frequently to determine whether the prisoner is being held lawfully. Please Note: Updated or new information is highlighted. Jurisdiction -- Authority by which courts receive and decide cases. FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction.