1. General Provisions
U.S. District Court of Maryland Local Rules (December 1, 2025)
RULE 303. DESIGNATION OF CHIEF MAGISTRATE JUDGE
The Chief District Judge shall have the authority to designate one (1) of the full-time
magistrate judges as Chief United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Maryland. The
Chief Magistrate Judge shall perform such duties in connection with the administration of
the magistrate judges’ system within this District as the Chief District Judge may, from time
to time, assign. The Chief Magistrate Judge, or a person designated by the Chief Magistrate
Judge, is authorized to reassign from one magistrate judge to another matters originally
assigned by a district judge to a magistrate judge pursuant to L.R. 301 and 28 U.S.C. § 636.
RULE 304. FORFEITURE OF COLLATERAL
1. General Provisions
a) The provisions of this Rule do not create or otherwise define an offense. This Rule
applies to petty offenses which have otherwise been created and/or defined by federal
statutes, regulations, or applicable state statutes lawfully assimilated by virtue of the
Assimilative Crimes Act (18 U.S.C. § 13) which petty offenses are committed within the
jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
b) When an asterisk (*) is inserted next to a listed violation, no forfeiture of collateral
will be permitted. Forfeiture of collateral will not be permitted unless same is specifically
authorized by the collateral schedule hereinafter provided, except as authorized by paragraph
(d) below. For any offense not specifically listed, a mandatory appearance will be required
except as may be authorized by paragraph (d) below.
c) In the event any non-mandatory offense is one (1) of a number of multiple offenses,
and any one (1) of such multiple offenses is a mandatory appearance offense, the arresting
officer or officer issuing a violation notice shall treat all offenses which otherwise would
have been non-mandatory as a mandatory appearance offense. In the event any non-
mandatory offense is deemed by the arresting officer or officer issuing a violation notice to
be of an aggravated nature, the officer may treat the offense as a mandatory appearance
offense. The arresting officer or officer issuing a violation notice may, within his discretion,
always treat any offense as a mandatory appearance offense notwithstanding the fact that
forfeiture of collateral may otherwise be permitted pursuant to this Rule.
d) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Rule, at the request or
recommendation of, or with the consent of the prosecuting authority, the United States
Magistrate Judge may set or authorize the setting of collateral for any petty offense.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Rule, at the request or
recommendation of, or with the consent of the prosecuting authority, the United States
Magistrate Judge may increase or decrease any collateral which may otherwise be authorized
or set pursuant to this Rule. The United States Magistrate Judge may require a mandatory
