Quick Facts Table
| Feature | Details |
| Full Name | Maryland Judiciary Case Search |
| Launched | January 2006 |
| Managed By | Maryland Judiciary (state government) |
| Access Cost | Free to the public |
| Website | casesearch.courts.state.md.us |
| Courts Covered | District, Circuit, Supreme, and Appellate Courts |
| Records Type | Civil, criminal, traffic, family, small claims |
| Account Required? | No (basic search is open to all) |
| MDEC Integration | Fully complete as of May 6, 2024 |
| Background Checks? | NOT suitable — use CJIS instead |
What Is the Maryland Judiciary Case Search?
Picture this. Your neighbor tells you they heard someone on your street had a court case. You wonder what happened. Where do you go?
You go to the Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
It is the state of Maryland’s free, public online tool for looking up court records. Any person — you, your landlord, a reporter, or a law student — can use it. No account. No fee. No lawyer needed.
The system went live in January 2006. At the time, courthouse clerks were drowning in phone calls from people asking about cases. The state built this tool to let people find answers on their own.
Today it holds records from every level of Maryland’s court system. That covers District Courts, Circuit Courts, the Supreme Court of Maryland, and the Appellate Court.
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Why Was It Built in the First Place?
Courts in a democracy are supposed to be open. That is a basic idea going all the way back to the founding of this country.
But “open” does not always mean easy. Before 2006, getting court information meant calling a clerk, driving to a courthouse, or waiting days for a letter back.
The Case Search system changed that overnight.
Now a regular person sitting at home can find out case numbers, dates, charges, and outcomes in minutes. That matters for journalism, for legal research, for people who just want to know the truth about something.
Maryland made a decision: the public deserves access. And they built a tool to deliver it.
The Four Levels of Maryland’s Courts
Before you search, it helps to understand how Maryland’s court system is actually set up.
Think of it like a ladder with four rungs.
District Court sits at the bottom. These are the courts most Marylanders will ever see. Traffic tickets, small claims, minor criminal charges, landlord-tenant disputes — all of that lives here. There are 34 District Court locations scattered across the state.
Circuit Court sits one rung higher. These courts handle more serious matters — felony cases, major civil lawsuits, divorces, and child custody fights. Each of Maryland’s 23 counties, plus Baltimore City, has its own Circuit Court.
Appellate Court of Maryland (formerly called the Court of Special Appeals) is above that. If someone thinks the lower court made a mistake, they bring their case here to be reviewed.
Supreme Court of Maryland sits at the top. This is Maryland’s highest court. It was actually renamed from “Court of Appeals” to “Supreme Court” in 2022. This court has the final say on state law questions.
Case Search covers all four levels. That is a lot of ground.
What Exactly Can You Find on Case Search?
When you look up a case, you will see a snapshot of what happened. Not every detail. But enough to know the big picture.
Here is what typically shows up:
- Names of the parties — who filed the case and who it was filed against
- Case number — the unique ID for that specific case
- Court location — which county or jurisdiction handled it
- Case type — criminal, civil, traffic, or family
- Charges — what someone was accused of (in criminal cases)
- Filing dates — when the case started
- Scheduled court dates — upcoming hearings
- Disposition — how it ended (convicted, dismissed, acquitted, etc.)
- Docket entries — a running log of every action taken in the case
Think of the docket like a timeline. Every motion filed, every hearing held, every order signed gets recorded there. It is not the actual documents — just the list of what happened and when.
How to Use It: Step-by-Step
Using Case Search is genuinely not hard. Even if you have never done it before, you can figure it out in under five minutes.
Step 1 — Go to the website. The address is casesearch.courts.state.md.us. This is the official site run by the state.
Step 2 — Agree to the terms. The site asks you to check a box agreeing to use the records responsibly. Read it. Check it. Click submit.
Step 3 — Beat the CAPTCHA. Before you can search anything, the website asks you to prove you are a real person — not a computer trying to grab thousands of records all at once. It is just a quick verification puzzle.
Step 4 — Enter your search. You can search by a person’s name, a company name, or a case number. If you only know the last name, that is fine. The tool defaults to exact matches, but you can type the first letter of the last name followed by a percent sign (%) to widen your results.
Step 5 — Filter your results. Got too many results? You can narrow things down by county, case type, filing date range, or court level.
Step 6 — Click a result to read the details. Once you pick a case from the list, you will see the full docket with all the recorded actions.
One small tip: if you are using a phone, flip it sideways. The site still has some rough edges on mobile, and the landscape view makes it much easier to read.
Searching by Name vs. Case Number
There are two main ways people typically search.
Name search is what most people use. You type in a first and last name. The system finds every case connected to that person across all of Maryland’s courts. It is remarkably thorough.
But here is a catch. Two people can share the same name. A search for “John Williams” could pull up dozens of different people. You will want to cross-check the date of birth or address shown in the results to make sure you have the right person.
Case number search is faster if you already have it. Every case in Maryland gets a unique case number when it is filed. If you know that number, you can jump straight to that one case instantly.
What Case Search Does NOT Show You
This part matters a lot. People sometimes trust Case Search more than they should.
Case Search is a summary tool. It is not the full court file.
If you want the actual documents — the complaint, the motions, the judge’s written orders — you have to go to the clerk’s office at the courthouse where the case was filed. You can request to view the file in person. Copies cost a small fee.
Also, some records are invisible on Case Search completely. These include:
- Juvenile records — cases involving minors are almost always protected
- Cases involving trade secrets — sometimes sealed by a judge
- Certain domestic violence records — addresses and personal details of victims are often hidden
- Records involving gender identity declarations — protected by law
- Financial statements in support cases — kept private by rule
And then there are records that used to show up but no longer do because of recent law changes.
Big Changes in 2024 and 2025
Maryland has been quietly updating what Case Search shows — and what it hides.
In 2024, the state made a significant move. A whole category of criminal outcomes got pulled from public view online. Here is what now disappears from Case Search:
- Any charge where the person was found not guilty
- Any charge that was dismissed or dropped (called “nolle prosequi”)
- Charges that were set aside more than three years ago (called a “stet”)
- Cannabis possession charges that were the only charge and were resolved before July 1, 2023
You can still visit the courthouse in person to view any of those records. But you will not find them with an online search anymore.
Then in April 2025, Governor Wes Moore signed the Expungement Reform Act. This was a big deal for tens of thousands of Marylanders. The law expanded who can apply to have their records cleared and shortened the waiting periods.
One specific change: the Case Search database can no longer show cannabis possession records that were pardoned by the governor. In 2024, Moore had already pardoned roughly 175,000 people for past marijuana misdemeanors. The 2025 law made sure those cases vanish from public online view entirely.
Shielding vs. Expungement — What Is the Difference?
People often mix these two up. They are not the same thing.
Expungement is the more powerful option. It physically removes records from court files and police records. It is like the case never happened — at least from a legal records standpoint. It is available mostly for cases where you were not convicted, or for certain specific offenses now decriminalized.
Shielding is less powerful but more widely available. It takes your conviction off Case Search so the public cannot see it. But law enforcement can still see it. It does not go away — it just goes behind a curtain. Under Maryland’s Second Chance Act, people convicted of certain qualifying misdemeanors can apply for shielding at no cost.
The big practical difference for everyday life: employers and landlords will not find a shielded record when they search online. But a cop pulling you over still can.
Can You Use Case Search for a Background Check?
Short answer: no. Please do not.
Maryland’s courts are very clear about this. Case Search is not a background screening tool.
It shows you what happened in court. But it is not designed to tell an employer everything about a person’s history. Records can be delayed. Some are expunged or shielded. Some never appeared online in the first place.
If you need a real background check — for hiring, for licensing, for a child care setting — you need to contact Maryland’s Criminal Justice Information System, called CJIS. They maintain a fingerprint-supported database that is actually built for this purpose. You can reach them at 1-888-795-0011 or online at dpscs.state.md.us.
Using Case Search for hiring decisions can lead to wrong conclusions. And it could open an employer up to legal trouble under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
MDEC: The Bigger System Behind the Scenes
While Case Search is what the public uses, there is a bigger system powering the courts themselves.
It is called MDEC — Maryland Electronic Courts.
MDEC is a massive statewide case management system that launched in pilot form back in 2014 and rolled out county by county over the next decade. On May 6, 2024, Maryland finished putting MDEC in every single court across the state.
Attorneys are now required to file everything electronically through MDEC. No more paper filing for lawyers. The system lets documents travel seamlessly from District Court to Circuit Court to the appellate levels without anyone having to re-enter data.
For regular people, MDEC mostly runs in the background. But you can register through the MDEC portal to view documents in cases where you are a party. And every courthouse has a public kiosk where anyone can walk in and look at electronic case files during business hours — free of charge.
The 500-Record Limit Problem
Here is something that trips people up during a name search.
If your search pulls more than 500 matching records, Case Search will stop and warn you. It will only show the first 500 results.
This sounds like a lot. But if you are searching a very common last name — “Johnson” or “Williams” — you will hit that wall quickly.
The fix is to narrow your search. Add a first name. Select a specific county. Pick a date range. Add a case type filter. Any of these will trim the results down to something manageable.
What If the Information Is Wrong?
Case Search says right on the website that the information comes from what clerks enter into their systems. Humans enter data. Humans sometimes make mistakes.
If you find an error — wrong name, wrong date, wrong outcome — you cannot fix it through the website. You have to contact the clerk’s office at the courthouse where the original record was created. Send a written notice explaining what is wrong and what the correct information should be.
This is worth doing if an error on Case Search is affecting your job applications or housing. An incorrect record online can follow a person for years.
Other Related Record Tools in Maryland
Case Search is the most used tool, but Maryland has others.
Estate Search (registers.maryland.gov) — Lets you look up information about someone’s estate after they pass away. It covers probate cases going back to 1998.
MDLandRec.net — Access to land records like deeds and mortgages. You need a free account to use it.
MDEC Portal — For attorneys and parties to a case who want to file or view actual documents electronically.
CJIS Background Check — For official background checks that require fingerprinting.
Each tool does something different. None of them replaces the others.
Final Words
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is one of the most genuinely useful tools the state government offers. It puts court transparency in everyone’s hands.
But it comes with responsibilities. The records belong to real people. A charge that shows up in a search might have been dismissed. An old case might be eligible for expungement. Someone may have already rebuilt their life since the date on that docket entry.
Use the tool to learn. Use it to research. Use it to stay informed about your own records.
Just do not use it to judge — at least not without understanding what you are actually looking at.
FAQs
Q1. Is Maryland Judiciary Case Search really free?
Yes, completely. There is no fee to search or view records on the site. You do not need to create an account either.
Q2. How far back do the records go?
It depends on the court and county. Some jurisdictions have records going back decades. Others have less historical data because their digital systems were set up later. The official FAQ says records vary by jurisdiction.
Q3. Can I find traffic tickets on Case Search?
Yes. District Court traffic cases are included in the system. This covers everything from speeding tickets to more serious moving violations.
Q4. What does “nolle prosequi” mean when I see it on Case Search?
It means the prosecutor decided to drop the charges. The case was dismissed and no conviction happened. As of 2024, charges with this outcome no longer appear in the online Case Search — but they can still be viewed in person at the courthouse.
Q5. Can I find out about someone’s divorce on Case Search?
Circuit Court civil cases, which include divorce filings, do appear. However, certain financial documents inside those cases — like income statements related to child support — are protected from public view.
Q6. Why does Case Search time out so fast?
The system is programmed to log you out after two minutes of inactivity. This is a security measure to protect sensitive records. Just start a new search if it times out on you.
Q7. My charge was dismissed — why does it still show up?
If the case was filed before the 2024 changes, some older dismissed charges may still be visible. You may be eligible to have the record expunged. Talk to a legal aid organization or attorney about your specific situation.
Q8. Can landlords use Case Search to screen tenants?
They can search it. But certain eviction-related records — specifically Failure to Pay Rent cases that did not result in a possession judgment — are now automatically shielded within 60 days of the final decision. The law is actively changing to give tenants more protection.
Q9. How do I find a case if I only have a partial name?
Type the first letter or letters of the last name, then add a percent sign (%). For example, “Joh%” will pull up all last names starting with “Joh.” This is the wildcard search trick the system supports.
Q10. If I am the defendant in a case, can I remove my record from Case Search?
It depends. If you qualify for expungement or shielding, yes — you can apply. The Expungement Reform Act of 2025 in Maryland greatly increased eligibility. The process is free for shielding under the Second Chance Act. Visit the People’s Law Library at peoples-law.org for step-by-step guidance.
Q11. Does Case Search show federal court cases?
No. Case Search only covers Maryland state courts. Federal cases are handled through a separate federal system called PACER (pacer.uscourts.gov).
Q12. What if I cannot find a case I know exists?
The case may be sealed, confidential, or entered under a slightly different name spelling. Try using the wildcard (%) search. If you still cannot find it, call or visit the clerk’s office at the courthouse where the case was filed.
Q13. Is information on Case Search updated in real time?
Not exactly. Information is entered by clerks and typically appears shortly after it is entered. There can be short delays, especially right after a hearing or filing.
Q14. Can someone find out I searched their name on Case Search?
No. The system does not notify people when their name has been searched. Searches are anonymous.
Q15. What happened to the old Case Search and MDEC portal — are they gone?
Yes. Maryland merged the two separate systems into one updated Case Search and Record Portal. The goal was to stop confusion between the two platforms. The new combined system went fully live in 2024 and 2025.
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