Baltimore City District Courthouses
Encyclopedia
The Baltimore City District Courthouses of the District Court of Maryland are located at North Avenue, Wabash Avenue, Patapsco Avenue and E. Fayette Street in Baltimore, Maryland
, and serve as the courts of first impression for the majority of residents in Baltimore City. Jurisdiction of the District Court includes most landlord- tenant cases, small claims for amounts up to $5,000, replevin actions, motor vehicle violations, misdemeanors, some felonies, and peace and protective orde.
39°18′44.65"N 76°35′55.31"W
The Eastside District Court Building, also known as North Avenue, is located at 1400 E. North Avenue in the North-Eastern area of Baltimore at the intersection of North Avenue and Harford Road
.
and was converted into a courthouse after the store closed in September 1981. The building, which stood at 5 stories height, was constructed in 1938 out of molded concrete on the site of the former Samuel Ready School. It was painted grey with black granite trim, with its windows and doors highlighted by molded bronze. The corner of the building at the intersection of North Avenue and Harford Road was flat and featured an enormous, three story high display window. It was claimed that this window was the largest of its kind in the world at the time at 40 feet (12.2 m) high, forty feet across and 27 feet (8.2 m) deep. The window would later be smashed in April 1968 during the riots
that took place following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Other than the entrances, the only other source of natural light in the building came from several panels of glass brick that ran the full height of the third and fourth floors directly above the entrances.
The store itself opened on September 21, 1938, with an opening ceremony that was attended by both the Governor of Maryland and the Mayor of Baltimore. It closed 43 years later due to what management called "efficiency of operation". In the building's current function as a courthouse the display window and Sears signs are gone, but the rest of the exterior has remained unaltered.
39°20′56.28"N 76°42′7.8"W
The Edward F. Borgerding District Court Building, aka Wabash, is located at 5800 Wabash Avenue in the northwest section of Baltimore City. Construction started in 1985 and on February 5, 1986 it was officially dedicated with remarks from then Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer
, then Governor Harry Hughes
and the chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals
, Robert C. Murphy. The building uses its 52824 square feet (4,907.5 m²) to house seven courtrooms, judges chambers, clerks' offices and satellite offices for the public defender and the state's attorney for Baltimore City. Graduations from the city's district drug courts are also held at this location.
39°14′9.75"N 76°35′56.85"W
The newest of the Baltimore City District Courthouses is the John R. Hargrove, Sr.
Building, located at 700 E. Patapsco Avenue in southern Baltimore City. The 87203 square feet (8,101.4 m²), two-story building was built on a 6.5 acres (26,304.6 m²) parcel of land at Patapsco Avenue and 7th Street. In addition to five courtrooms, the building includes offices for the District One court operations, State's Attorney and Public Defender offices and parking for 262 cars.
The general contractor for the $11.9 million facility was Roy Kirby and Sons, Inc., of Baltimore. The architect for the project was RCG/HOK, a joint venture (RCG of Baltimore and HOK
of Washington, D.C.).
, the first African-American to serve as an administrative judge of any court in Maryland. In 1974, Judge Hargrove was appointed to the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City, now the Circuit Court, where he served for ten years until his appointment by President Ronald Reagan
to the federal bench in 1983. Judge Hargrove died April 1, 1997.
39°17′26.28"N 76°36′32.31"W
The Civil Division of the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City is located at the intersection of Fayette and Gay Street
s in Baltimore City. All minor civil matters including landlord tenant disputes, housing violations and minor civil suits are handled here.
A parking garage, where portions of the movie …and Justice for All were filmed, once stood next to the court building. The garage was torn down to make way for the Baltimore City Police
headquarters.
The Baltimore City Central Booking Intake Center, also known as Central Booking, that is located at 300 E. Madison Street in the east-central part of Baltimore City also houses a courtroom for the District of Maryland for Baltimore City. The facility is largely a correctional intake facility run by the state of Maryland
. Judges assigned here usually hold hearings involving persons recently arrested for crimes and who are being held, pre-trial, in lieu of a certain dollar amount bail
. Bail review hearings are held daily with members of the Baltimore City State's Attorney's office and the Office of the Public Defender present.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and serve as the courts of first impression for the majority of residents in Baltimore City. Jurisdiction of the District Court includes most landlord- tenant cases, small claims for amounts up to $5,000, replevin actions, motor vehicle violations, misdemeanors, some felonies, and peace and protective orde.
Eastside District Court
The Eastside District Court Building, also known as North Avenue, is located at 1400 E. North Avenue in the North-Eastern area of Baltimore at the intersection of North Avenue and Harford Road
Maryland Route 147
Maryland Route 147 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Harford Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Baltimore north to US 1 and US 1 Business in Benson. MD 147 is an alternate route to US 1 between Baltimore and Bel Air, the county seat of Harford County...
.
History
The building was formerly a Sears storeSears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
and was converted into a courthouse after the store closed in September 1981. The building, which stood at 5 stories height, was constructed in 1938 out of molded concrete on the site of the former Samuel Ready School. It was painted grey with black granite trim, with its windows and doors highlighted by molded bronze. The corner of the building at the intersection of North Avenue and Harford Road was flat and featured an enormous, three story high display window. It was claimed that this window was the largest of its kind in the world at the time at 40 feet (12.2 m) high, forty feet across and 27 feet (8.2 m) deep. The window would later be smashed in April 1968 during the riots
Baltimore riot of 1968
The Baltimore Riot of 1968 began two days after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Rioting broke out in 125 cities across the United States, and spread to the city of Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, April 6. The Governor of Maryland, Spiro T...
that took place following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
Other than the entrances, the only other source of natural light in the building came from several panels of glass brick that ran the full height of the third and fourth floors directly above the entrances.
The store itself opened on September 21, 1938, with an opening ceremony that was attended by both the Governor of Maryland and the Mayor of Baltimore. It closed 43 years later due to what management called "efficiency of operation". In the building's current function as a courthouse the display window and Sears signs are gone, but the rest of the exterior has remained unaltered.
Wabash District Court
The Edward F. Borgerding District Court Building, aka Wabash, is located at 5800 Wabash Avenue in the northwest section of Baltimore City. Construction started in 1985 and on February 5, 1986 it was officially dedicated with remarks from then Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer was an American politician who served in public office for 50 years at both the state and local level in Maryland. A Democrat, he was mayor of Baltimore from 1971 to 1987, the 58th Governor of Maryland from January 21, 1987 to January 18, 1995, and the Comptroller of...
, then Governor Harry Hughes
Harry Hughes
Harry Roe Hughes , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 57th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1979 to 1987.-Early life and family:...
and the chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals
Maryland Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals of Maryland is the supreme court of the U.S. state of Maryland. The court, which is composed of one chief judge and six associate judges, meets in the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building in the state capital, Annapolis...
, Robert C. Murphy. The building uses its 52824 square feet (4,907.5 m²) to house seven courtrooms, judges chambers, clerks' offices and satellite offices for the public defender and the state's attorney for Baltimore City. Graduations from the city's district drug courts are also held at this location.
Patapsco District Court
The newest of the Baltimore City District Courthouses is the John R. Hargrove, Sr.
John R. Hargrove, Sr.
John R. Hargrove, Sr. was the first African American to be appointed assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and was later appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland....
Building, located at 700 E. Patapsco Avenue in southern Baltimore City. The 87203 square feet (8,101.4 m²), two-story building was built on a 6.5 acres (26,304.6 m²) parcel of land at Patapsco Avenue and 7th Street. In addition to five courtrooms, the building includes offices for the District One court operations, State's Attorney and Public Defender offices and parking for 262 cars.
The general contractor for the $11.9 million facility was Roy Kirby and Sons, Inc., of Baltimore. The architect for the project was RCG/HOK, a joint venture (RCG of Baltimore and HOK
Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum
HOK is a global architecture, interiors, engineering, planning and consulting firm. HOK is the largest U.S.-based architecture-engineering firm and the "No. 1 role model for sustainable and high-performance design." HOK also is the second-largest interior design firm...
of Washington, D.C.).
History
Ground for this new courthouse was broken in 2001 and it is named in honor of the late Judge John R. Hargrove, Sr.John R. Hargrove, Sr.
John R. Hargrove, Sr. was the first African American to be appointed assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and was later appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland....
, the first African-American to serve as an administrative judge of any court in Maryland. In 1974, Judge Hargrove was appointed to the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City, now the Circuit Court, where he served for ten years until his appointment by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to the federal bench in 1983. Judge Hargrove died April 1, 1997.
Civil Division
The Civil Division of the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City is located at the intersection of Fayette and Gay Street
Gay Street (Baltimore)
Gay Street is a street in Baltimore, Maryland that gets its name from Nicholas Ruxton Gay, who surveyed the area in 1747. It begins at the intersection of East Pratt Street near the Baltimore World Trade Center and proceeds north and east through Baltimore until it crosses Orleans Street and...
s in Baltimore City. All minor civil matters including landlord tenant disputes, housing violations and minor civil suits are handled here.
A parking garage, where portions of the movie …and Justice for All were filmed, once stood next to the court building. The garage was torn down to make way for the Baltimore City Police
Baltimore Police Department
The Baltimore Police Department provides police services to the city of Baltimore, Maryland and was officially established by the Maryland Legislature on March 16, 1853...
headquarters.
Central Booking
39°17′54.98"N 76°36′35.94"WThe Baltimore City Central Booking Intake Center, also known as Central Booking, that is located at 300 E. Madison Street in the east-central part of Baltimore City also houses a courtroom for the District of Maryland for Baltimore City. The facility is largely a correctional intake facility run by the state of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Judges assigned here usually hold hearings involving persons recently arrested for crimes and who are being held, pre-trial, in lieu of a certain dollar amount bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
. Bail review hearings are held daily with members of the Baltimore City State's Attorney's office and the Office of the Public Defender present.