Harford County Circuit Court Filing Timing and Cure Windows

CRITICALCivil cases

Parties have 30 days to file a motion for reconsideration.

30 days to file a motion for reconsideration,

CRITICALCivil cases

Parties have 30 days to file an appeal.

and 30 days to file an appeal.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel designated to prepare a final order must meet the timeframe established by the judge.

Counsel who are designated to prepare any such final order must comply within the time frame established by the judge.

CRITICAL

After the initial guardianship review hearing, the Court is required to review cases annually, no later than 365 days from initial guardianship review; however, to ensure timely termination of the guardianship, the review hearings will be scheduled every six months.

After the initial guardianship review hearing, the Court is required to review cases annually, no later than 365 days from initial guardianship review; however, to ensure timely termination of the guardianship, the review hearings will be scheduled every six months.

CRITICAL

If the change to adoption is not supported, the referenced Guardianship step is due within 60 days.

otherwise, within 60 days.

CRITICAL

The initial guardianship review hearing must be scheduled within six months of the final guardianship order.

The initial guardianship review hearing will be scheduled within 6 months of the Final Order for Guardianship.

CRITICAL

The juvenile clerk will schedule a competency hearing within 60 days of the initial evaluation order.

To ensure compliance with the time frames required by CJP § 3-8A-17.3 the juvenile clerk will schedule a competency hearing within 60 days of the Court’s initial order for evaluation.

CRITICAL

Schedule a shelter care hearing on the day of emergency removal or the next day the court is in session.

Upon the emergency removal of a child from his/her home, a shelter care hearing will be scheduled before the juvenile court either the same day as removal or the next day the court is in session.

CRITICAL

After the initial review, hold review hearings at least every six months until the CINA determination is terminated.

Thereafter, review hearings will be held at least every 6 months until a CINA determination is terminated.

CRITICALCivil cases

Trial Within 480 of filing

Trial Within 480 of filing

CRITICAL

The competency evaluation report must be completed and filed within 45 days after the initial evaluation order is issued.

Once an evaluation is ordered, in accordance with CJP § 3-8A-17.3, the evaluation report must be completed and filed with the Court within 45 days after the initial order of evaluation is issued, and once the report is received by the Court a hearing on competency must be held within 15 days, unless for good cause shown the time periods are extended.

CRITICALCivil cases

After the specified one-year period of inactivity, parties have 30 days after notice to move to vacate or defer dismissal; otherwise, the Clerk reviews and dismisses the case without prejudice.

not been filed or, following answer, no other action has been taken on the case after one year, the Clerk’s office sends notices to the parties that they have 30 days to file a motion to vacate or defer the order of dismissal, or the case will be dismissed without prejudice. After 30 days, the Clerk’s office reviews and dismisses the case. A motion docket entry is made that the case is dismissed without prejudice for lack of prosecution.

CRITICAL

The initial Voluntary Placement event occurs within 30 days after the Petition for Voluntary Placement is filed.

Within 30 days from the filing of the Petition for Voluntary Placement

CRITICALCivil cases

Where no parties have been served, the Court will reset the Scheduling Hearing within 30 days, order that summonses be reissued if needed, and remind the plaintiff that the deadline to file a Motion for Alternative Service is 120 days after filing (Day 121).

Where no parties have been served, the Court will reset the Scheduling Hearing within 30 days, order that summonses be reissued if needed, and remind the plaintiff that the deadline to file a Motion for Alternative Service is 120 days after filing (Day 121).

CRITICAL

Six-month permanency plan hearings will be scheduled during a voluntary placement.

Thereafter, 6-month permanency plan hearings will be scheduled, followed by review hearings every 6-month until termination of the voluntary placement.

CRITICAL

The Adjudicatory Hearing is held no later than 30 days after the Shelter Care Hearing.

No later than 30 days from the shelter care hearing

CRITICAL

If the SAO objects to a DJS request to terminate probation, the hearing must be held within 30 days after the objection is filed.

If an objection is filed, the juvenile clerk will schedule a hearing, which will be held within 30 days after the SAO files its objection.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A motion to compel based on inadequate discovery must be filed within 10 days after the discovery was received.

A motion to compel based on inadequate discovery shall be filed within 10 days after the date the discovery was received.

CRITICALCivil cases

A request to change the track designation must be made within 15 days of the first answer.

All requests to change the track designation must be made within 15 days of first answer.

CRITICALCivil cases

Procedural and discovery motions may be filed no later than 21 days before trial.

Procedural and discovery motions may be filed up no later than 21 days prior to trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

For Track 2 civil standard cases, motions hearings and discovery must be complete within 180 days of filing.

Motions Hearings/Discovery Complete Within 180 days of filing

CRITICALCivil cases

Parties have 10 days to file a motion to alter or amend a judgment.

The parties have 10 days to file a motion to alter or amend a judgment (Md. Rule 2-534);

CRITICALCivil cases

An exceptions hearing must be held within 60 days after the exceptions are filed, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

A hearing will be held within 60 days of the filing of the exceptions unless the parties otherwise agree in writing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadline

5 business days

The written statement must be filed no later than five business days before the Pretrial Settlement Conference.

Counsel or the parties shall be directed to prepare and file, no later than five business days prior to the Pretrial Settlement Conference, a written statement, in accordance with Md. Rule 2-504.2.

CRITICALCivil cases

Defendant experts must be identified within 60 days after the plaintiff’s expert disclosure; these deadlines do not apply to rebuttal witnesses.

The defendant’s expert witnesses must be identified within 60 days of the disclosure of the plaintiff’s experts. These expert disclosure deadlines do not apply to rebuttal witnesses.

CRITICAL

The VOP hearing must be scheduled no later than 30 days after the arraignment hearing.

The VOP hearing will be scheduled no later than 30 days from the arraignment hearing.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Criminal cases must be brought to trial within 180 days of the earlier of counsel’s entry of appearance or the defendant’s first appearance before the Circuit Court.

Section 6-103 of the Criminal Procedure Article and Md. Rule 4-271 require criminal cases to be brought to trial within 180 days of the earlier of the entry of appearance of counsel or the first appearance of the defendant before the Circuit Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

The interpreter request must be filed with the Civil Department at least 30 days before trial.

At least 30 days prior to trial, the party(ies) must file this request to the Civil Department.

CRITICAL

If the child remains in shelter care, schedule adjudication within 30 days of removal; if the allegations are proven, hold disposition the same day unless good cause supports a delay of 30 days from adjudication.

If after the shelter care hearing the child is continued in shelter care, an adjudicatory hearing will be scheduled within 30 days of when the child was removed from the home, and if the allegations in the petition are proven, a disposition hearing will be held on the same day, unless for good cause shown it is delayed for 30 days from the adjudicatory hearing.

CRITICAL

If CINA is determined, a review hearing must be scheduled within six months after the petition was filed.

If a CINA determination is made, a review hearing will be scheduled within 6 months of when the CINA Petition was filed to determine if the child in still CINA.

CRITICAL

The Scheduling Conference occurs after service of the show cause order or the publication period and after the earlier of the objection period expiring or objections being filed.

After service of show cause order (or publication period) and after the earlier of 30-day period to file objections to the Petition for Guardianship has expired, or objections filed.

CRITICAL

The referenced Guardianship step is due within 30 days of the court’s order if the change to adoption is supported.

Guardianship within 30 days of the court’s order if it supports the change to adoption

CRITICAL

A hearing on a Peace Order request must be scheduled within 7 to 14 days after the request is filed.

Once a Peace Order request is filed, a hearing will be scheduled within 7-14 days.

CRITICAL

For a guilty plea, the attorney must file the signed WOR with the Clerk before the hearing.

If the criminal proceedings involves a guilty plea, the attorney must review the Waiver of Rights (WOR) form with the Defendant prior to the hearing, and: 1) the Defendant must initial and sign the WOR; 2) the attorney must also sign the WOR and; 3) the attorney must file it with the Clerk of the Court before the hearing.

CRITICAL

The juvenile clerk must schedule the adoption hearing within 180 days after the adoption petition is filed.

To ensure the timely resolution of adoption cases, once the Adoption Petition is filed, the juvenile clerk will schedule the adoption hearing within 180 days of when the petition is filed.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A motion for bifurcation of trial must be filed at least 15 days before trial.

Pursuant to Md. Rule 4-314, a motion for bifurcation of trial must be filed no later than 15 days before trial.

CRITICAL

A permanency plan hearing is held at 11 months for a continuing voluntary placement.

11 month permanency plan hearing.

CRITICAL

The Status Conference is held within 60 days after the petition is filed.

Within 60 days of filing of the petition

CRITICAL

The Shelter Care Hearing is held the day the child is removed from the home or the next day the court is in session.

which will be held same day child is removed from the home or the next day the court is in session.

CRITICAL

A hearing on a motion to compel discovery must be held within three days after the motion is filed.

In accordance with Md. Rule 11-109(a)(7) a hearing on the motion shall be held within three days after the motion is filed.

CRITICAL

The SAO must file a delinquency petition within 10 days of the Circuit Court’s reverse-waiver order.

The SAO must file a delinquency petition within 10 days of the Circuit Court’s Order granting the reverse waiver.

CRITICAL

If the case is contested, trial is held within 180 days after the petition is filed.

Within 180 days of the filing of the petition if contested.

CRITICAL

Track 4 cases will be concluded within 30 days of a child’s continual placement in shelter care.

Track 4 cases will be concluded within 30 days of a child’s continual placement in shelter care.

CRITICAL

If necessary, the Advisement Hearing is held within 14 days of the Shelter Care Hearing.

If necessary, within 14 days of shelter hearing.

CRITICAL

Exceptions to the juvenile magistrate’s report and recommendation must be filed within five days after service on a party.

Exceptions must be filed within five days after the juvenile magistrate’s report is served upon a party.

CRITICALCivil cases

For most Circuit Court family law case subtypes, the defendant must file an affirmative Answer, typically within 30 days after service of the summons.

The defendant must file an affirmative Answer, typically within 30 days after service of a summons, for most Circuit Court family law case subtypes (Md. Rule 2-321).

CRITICALCriminal cases

Mandatory motions under Md. Rule 4-252(a) and motions to transfer to juvenile court under Md. Rule 4-252(c) must be filed within 30 days after the earlier of counsel’s appearance or the defendant’s first appearance.

Mandatory motions pursuant to Md. Rule 4-252(a) and motions to transfer to the juvenile court pursuant to Md. Rule 4-252(c) shall be filed within 30 days after the earlier of the appearance of counsel or the first appearance of the defendant before the court pursuant to

CRITICAL

The juvenile clerk must schedule a voluntary placement hearing within 30 days after DSS files its petition.

The juvenile clerk will schedule a voluntary placement hearing within 30 days of when the DSS files a Petition for Voluntary Placement.

CRITICALCriminal cases

If a response to the motion is made, it must be filed within 15 days after service of the motion.

Md. Rule 4-213(c). A response, if made, shall be filed within 15 days after service of the motion.

CRITICAL

If the voluntary placement continues, six-month review hearings are held.

if voluntary placement continues then 6 month review hearings