(Annapolis, MD – Dec. 22, 2008) All courts in the Maryland state court system – District Courts, Circuit Courts, the Court of Special Appeals, and the Court of Appeals – will be closed on Friday, Dec. 26, 2008, and Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.

Any cases scheduled in any of these courts on either Dec. 26 or Jan. 2 will be rescheduled, and notices will be sent to all parties.

However, District Courts in Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Baltimore City will conduct bail reviews.

When the courts are closed,
• Peace or protective orders may be filed with a District Court Commissioner. A commissioner is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. A directory of commissioner stations is available on the Maryland Judiciary’s Web site at www.mdcourts.gov/district/directories/commissionermap.html.

• Traffic tickets can be paid online through the Web site www.paymentchek.com/MD/MarylandCourt/, or through the District Court’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system at 1-800-492-2656. The IVR system accepts credit card payments for traffic citations, through Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express.

For more information, contact the Court Information Office at 410-260-1488 or email cio@mdcourts.gov.