Rule 16-108 - Assignment of Judges(a) Generally. The authority provided in this Rule shall be exercised to ensure the full and efficient use of judges throughout the judicial system, to help equalize judicial workloads, and to expedite the disposition of pending cases.(b) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, by order, may assign (1) a judge of the District Court, a circuit court, or an appellate court to sit temporarily in another court other than an Orphans' Court, or (2) a judge of an Orphans' Court of a county to sit temporarily in an Orphans' Court of another county in accordance with Code, Estates and Trusts Article, § 2-106(i). The order shall specify the court in which the judge is to sit and the duration of the assignment. While so assigned, the judge shall possess all of the power and authority of a judge of a court to which the judge is assigned.(c) Circuit Administrative Judge. Subject to section (b) of this Rule, a Circuit Administrative Judge may assign a judge of a circuit court within the judicial circuit to sit as a judge of another circuit court within the judicial circuit. The assignment may be for a specific case or cases or for a specified time and shall be in writing.(d) County Administrative Judge. Subject to sections (b) and (c) of this Rule, the assignment of judges within the circuit court for a county having more than one resident judge shall be made by the County Administrative Judge. Those assignments may be made orally or in writing.(e) District Administrative Judge. Subject to section (b) of this Rule, a District Administrative Judge may assign a judge of the District Court within the Administrative Judge's district to sit as a District Court judge in any county within the judicial district. The assignment shall be in writing. Sections (a) through (d) of this Rule are derived from former Rule 16-103(2016). Section (e) is new.
Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. 7/1/2016; amended April 21, 2023, eff. 4/1/2023. For the power of the Chief Judge of the District Court to assign judges, see Rule 16-106(c).