Magistrate

Maryland Judiciary; Maryland; On-site; USD 168,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

The Maryland Judiciary seeks a full-time Magistrate for the Circuit Court in Garrett County, Oakland, MD. The ideal candidate will handle family and juvenile law matters with a strong background in child support and juvenile proceedings.

Requirements include a Juris Doctorate and active Maryland Bar membership, plus a minimum of five years' experience practicing law. The role emphasizes ethics, impartiality, and effective communication with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of experience practicing law.
• Preferred: ten years of experience in family law.
• Active Maryland Bar in good standing is required.
• Extensive family law experience including child support knowledge.
• Ability to manage hearings and provide written and oral findings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct custody, contempt, modification, and other family law hearings.
• Conduct settlement conferences and related court proceedings.
• Collaborate with court administration, family law coordinator, and Administrative Judge.
• Willingness to travel for continuing education throughout the State

Skills

Family law experience

Oral and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Judgment and discretion

Ethics and impartiality

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

Magistrate

Closing Date: November 4, 2026

Location: Circuit Court for Garrett County, Oakland, Maryland

Salary: $186,510

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Type: Full Time, At Will

(No outside employment permitted)

Financial Disclosure: Yes, required to complete annually

The Maryland Judiciary offers a generous benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, tuition assistance, continuing education programs, employee assistance programs, and State Retirement and Pension plans.

Maryland Judiciary Benefits (mdcourts.gov)

About the Maryland Court System | Maryland Courts (mdcourts.gov)

A full-time Magistrate Position with the Circuit Court for Garrett County is available. Duties include Family Law and Juvenile Law matters authorized pursuant to Maryland Rules 9-208 and 11-111. The successful candidate will have extensive family law experience, including child support administration case knowledge, understanding of juvenile proceedings involving children in need of assistance and delinquency matters.

Essential Functions

• Conduct custody, contempt, modification, pendente lite, support and other family law hearings pursuant to Maryland Rule 9-208.
• Conduct settlement conferences. Conduct shelter/ detention hearings, settlement/pre-trial conferences; conduct regular review hearings. Provide timely written and oral findings and recommendations.
• Confer and collaborate with court administration, the family law coordinator, and the Administrative Judge, as well as the staff of the Circuit Court.
• The Magistrate must be willing to travel for continuing education throughout the State and to other courts as needed.

Education

Juris Doctorate and a member of the Maryland Bar in good standing.

Experience

Minimum of Five (5) years of experience practicing law.

Preferred

Minimum of 10 years of experience in the practice of family law.

Skills/Abilities

Ability to work the full-time standard work schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday) with flexibility to accommodate early or late meetings. Maintain a regular, punctual, and reliable level of attendance. Ability to work independently and have a high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. Ability to maintain a professional demeanor, communicate effectively orally and in writing, and to exercise a high degree of judgment, tact, diplomacy, and competence in dealing with judges, attorneys, court personnel, self-represented litigants, limited-English speakers, and a culturally diverse public. Ability to make timely decisions based on the law, rules, experience, good judgment, and established policies and procedures. Ability to write effectively, clearly, with attention to detail when composing, typing and proofing materials, while providing decisions supported by the law, Rules, Code, and fundamentals of the English language. Proficiency in setting priorities while simultaneously processing multiple duties and responsibilities. Ability to develop and maintain collaborative and professional working relationships with court personnel, the bar, local stakeholders, and the public. Retain a high standard of ethics to uphold the law and remain impartial, neutral and free from bias at all times.

At Will Employment

Selection of a candidate for the Magistrate position is considered by the Circuit Court Bench, and upon appointment, serves under the direct oversight of the Administrative Judge. Circuit Court employees are at-will employees and serve at the discretion of the Administrative Judge. This means that either an employee, or the Court, may terminate the employee relationship at any time, with or without cause. There are no contractual relationships between the Circuit Court and an employee. Letters, benefit or policy statements, performance evaluation, handbooks, or other employee communications should not be interpreted as a contractual relationship. The at-will relationship remains in full force and effect notwithstanding any statements to the contrary made by court personnel or set forth in any documents. Any attorney appointed to this position may not engage in the practice of law.

The Maryland Judiciary is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to fostering a workplace culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, familial status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. Applicants who need an ADA Accommodation during the application and/or interview process should send their request via email to [e-mail] or call 410-260-1732. The Maryland Judiciary is a drug‑free workplace. Applicants must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States.

Please find the Maryland Judiciary's equal employment opportunity policy here: Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation.