State of Maryland, Montgomery County Circuit Courthouse Review

I called into family division twice to see where to start when filing for guardianship. All I needed to know was where to get the paperwork I would need to file, but no one I spoke to was able to give me this info. Now maybe they cant tell you this over the phone. That seems a bit unreasonable, but if that was the case. why didn't anyone at any point in either of the conversations tell me I would need to come down and make an appt for the information i need? When I did go to the court I was handed a huge packet and told it would be hours before seeing anyone due to them being short staffed. When I finally sat and read though the packet I found that this was all stuff I could have begun on my own if I had just known where to get it. I can understand why they may be short staffed at this time with fears or sickness circulating, but once again I could have begun it on my own if someone could have just told me where to start. I wouldn't have even needed to come down there to burden them with yet another case to work on.

The most inefficient, slow, rude group of people work in this courthouse. I will never understand why these people can't seem to run this place accordingly.

What more to say. It's not your average public building. The security staff is nice, and the place is easy to spot from a great distance.

They still have an issue with the racial profiling, ADAA accommodations and inequality. The State of Maryland Courts must improve access to justice and diminished discrimination which continues to threaten equality within the judicial system. Instances of bias include, but are not limited to, bias towards an individual s gender, race and ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Make strides toward eliminating bias in their court system through accomplishments such as increased access to justice, improvement jury pool representation, mass incarceration, stop re-victimizing sexual assault victims, promoting diversity in court appointments, providing adequate interpreter services, conducting educational programs, encouraging diversity in law enforcement, and promoting the availability of legal representation for the poor.

Even though they close at 4:30 they would not issue me a marriage license because it was "after 4:00PM" and apparently this is mentioned somewhere on the website even though I've yet to see it. They were completely rude and unprofessional and they don't even care because it's not like you can just take your business elsewhere.

Update: when I returned the next day the whole process took about 3 minutes which further emphasizes that it was completely unnecessary for them to turn me away the first time.

Nice place! Holding cells are kind of cold and the seats are kind of uncomfortable, but the food was hand delivered straight to me by the friendly sheriffs. When I finally stepped into the court room I was impressed by how big and warm the rooms are I didn t even notice when I got sentenced to 5 years! Overall very professional, fair judges(got my 5 years reduced to 18 months!) will definitely get sentenced here again if I ever have the time to sit in a cell again 5 out of 5

Easily finding the case and hall that the trail take place. Very professional place

Five stars-to the attorney Dan Cardell in family Self help help room
Five stars-to Judge Gary E. Baer

I called with questions and Pam in the Family center was very helpful. She took her time to explain things to me and did not get frustrated with my questions. I could not figure things out but after speaking to her she explained everything in detail and gave me all of the information that I needed. I could not ask for a better helper

I wish i could give one stare. Judge Cheral A. McCally is the MOST biased, unprofessional, corrupt Judge to ever walk the halls of the of this court house

Since 2014, my life suddenly changed due to an illness. Later, I was diagnosed with an incurable disease which caused me to become disabled. I was a pro se litigant at District and Circuit Court in Maryland with a visible and invisible disability. The "Declarations of Rights" for Maryland citizens doesn't apply to the protected class".

The State of Maryland supposed to be dedicated to a full compliance with the "reasonable accommodation" requirements and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Montgomery County Court is a covered agency, a disabled person makes them aware that they are disabled (oral or written) a request reasonable accommodations should be provided in a timely manner. I applied for ADA accommodations under the American Disability Act to ensure that I have access to court services and participate in my trial like an average person. People with disabilities suppose to be given an equal opportunity to access, use and fully participate in court services and programs, and not be discriminated against because of their disability.".
I request for a postponement because the court date was scheduled at the same time I was scheduled for surgery. Right after the surgery, I had a surgical procedure and I was informed that I couldn t no longer postpone after the 2nd surgery. On the court date and the Judge refuse to execute my ADA accommodations nor the ADA Coordinator attended court to ensure I receive my ADA requests. I spoke to the Judge about my ADA accommodations, he became very biased/ rude and refused my disability/ ADA accommodations which were granted to me supported by doctors certification. The Judge Debellius III is bias and violated every rule of law and refused me a fair due process! Now they have Judge Greenburg who was on the Judicial board and very unfair political Judge. I don't know why but white supremacy is so strong in Montgomery County, MD it took over Judges who are Jewish, my opinion.

The security at the entrance door took my cane which I use it to balance as I walk. They yell when I walk too slow in line and because of my incapabilities that I couldn t comprehend why they were yelling at me so abusively. I also wanted to report that the Circuit Court entrance door disability button get stuck and the door doesn't open. But instead they ignored my request, the lack of care was clearly expressed.
Statistically it's proven that the State of MD is unequal and the court system is biased and the protected class are oppressed from gaining any justice. Justice is dominated by one gender and race; biased and unequal; the "protected class" is treated inhumanly. Don't waste time to complain about a Judge to Judical disabilities they are "friends" some call it the "Good ole boy network" and dominated by white males.

ADA Education and Reform Act of 2015
This bill requires the Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice to develop a program to educate state and local governments and property owners on strategies for promoting access to public accommodations for persons with a disability. The program may include training for professionals to provide a guidance of remediation for potential violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

Court "Family Department"

For 7 years I have always been disappointed with the "assistants" in the Court. They don't have patience to assist or explain process or situation,treating the people really bad,even being rude . I'm not talking about people that does not speak English very well,and missing understand something. I am talking about their behavior in general with people,that are in there most often for unpleasant reasons!!

This is need to change!!! It is Court House, not a supermarket (that you can treat the people the way you like).

Some kind and helpful attitudes can help, like the Lady Denise from the Family Department. What a gentle lady! I wish all the staff in there could be like her! (First time I have been treat really nice resolving a process!) 5* for today!

Arianna Mello.

Very Lazy, Rude and Nasty Staff! And that s in just about every department.

Nice place, free wifi. The security and staff are nice, even when busy. They have comfortable seating available, and everything is handicapped accessible. There are restaurants nearby if you are hungry and have a break during or after whatever business brings you to the courthouse. An easy 5 -10 minute walk from the nearby Metro Station (depending on how fast you walk, it might take more or less time).

The public defender who I was assigned to didn't even request the surveillance footage in a stalking case. My stalker confessed to calling me by agreeing to plea guilty thereby violating his restraining order. This same public defender decided after not being prepared for this case to dismiss the case to up the charges as my stalker broke into my house which initially was the reason for the restraining order in the first place. The charges were accepted, but due to out dated not filed. The clerk encouraged me to sue my stalker. Long story short, bring your own attorney. I live abroad, I still am fielding blocked calls. My friends who have never met my stalker are still receiving follow request three years after breaking up with this guy. A restraining order did not help and neither did this court.

A week after I found a "no signature required" independent adoption notice in the gravel of my rental home I did not live at and not home on reccord, I jumped on a plane to Rockville for court. I just recently was honorably discharged from the military at 80% disability. The expensive lawyer the petitioner hired interacted with the judge like they were drinking buddies. Annoyed that I even showed up they proceeded to punish me together. The judge ignored my silly served "contempt for denial of visitation" when I revealed it's existence, accepted invalid consent documents as evidence, made unsubstantiated remarks about me, and disabled my ability to present any evidence due to my failure to respond to not received/unlawfully served documents.

What was supposed to be a question of my consent (obviously NO), turned into a bashing session. My valid arguments were just ignored, witnesses were permitted to skip damaging questions without objection, and unsubstantiated invalidation was never challenged. Drowning in my tears at this emotional slaughter house the Judge ended with "It is so sad you did not express any loving experiences with your son" and ruled "In my 30 years this is a first for me, I rule Consent with non-consent" and walked away. Sounded illegal and probably was. The judgement on paper was completely changed after based on me never making contact with my son, when my ex-wife was served my complaint "contempt for denial of visitation", I was not in contempt for anything, and all avenues of contact were denied to me.

I was so naive to think blatant unlawful practice like that couldn't be possible in my country. The judge at least touched his temple when I expressed my struggles juggling deployment and fighting for my son. I suppose it could have been worse like him pointing and laughing at me while burning american flags.