The judicial system of the State consists of three parts. The highest tribunal is a Court of Appeals of eight judges, seven of whom are the chief judges of the circuits into which the counties are grouped, and the eighth is chosen from Baltimore city. The governor designates one of these judges as chief judge. A Cir cuit Court is held in each coun, and in each circuit there are two judges (in the circuit composed of Baltimore and Harford counties there are three judges),, in addition to the chief judge. In Baltimore city there are 10 judges who sit together as the supreme bench of the city and assign themselves, from time to time, to sit separately in the several city courts. All these previously-named judges are elected for 15 years by popular vote at elections in odd years. A judge who has reached the age of 70 years may not complete his term, unless a special vote in his behalf is passed by the gen eral assembly. Vacancies in judgeships are filled by the governor, whose appointees hold office until the next election.
Petty cases are heard before justices of the peace, who are appointed by the governor for the term of four years. In the counties, these officers are generally paid by fees. In Balti more, such cases are brought before salaried officials serving in regular tribunals, as police courts (criminal), people's courts (civil) or juvenile courts.
The first settlers were Roman Catholics and Anglicans. The first Protestant services were held by the Rev. Richard James, on Kent Island in 1632, and the first Roman Catholic services, by Rev. Andrew White, S.J., and Rev. John Altham, S.r., at Saint Mary's in 1634. A considerable settlement of Puritans from Virginia came into Anne Arundel County about 1650, and were largely induced to be come Quakers when George Fox came to Maryland about 1670. He also established meetings on the Eastern Shore, one of which Third Haven, near Easton in Talbot County, possesses a house of worship over 200 years old. Presbyterians, under Rev. Francis Ma kemie, established churches on the lower East ern Shore about 1690. Baptist churches were organized in the 18th century. The German speaking settlers of the years 1730-50 brought the Reformed and Lutheran faiths into the province. Rev. Philip William Otterbein, pas tor of a Reformed church still standing on Sharpe and Conway streets in Baltimore, founded the United Brethren Church in Fred erick County in 1800. Robert Strawbridge, one of Wesley's local preachers, held the first Methodist services in the United States in Car roll County in 1761, and, through the labors of Francis Asbury and other devoted men, the Church spread rapidly. At the Christmas Con ference held on Lovely lane (Redwood street), Baltimore, in 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, and its first bishops, Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke, elected. Right Rev. John Carroll, of an old provincial family, was consecrated as bishop of Baltimore in the Roman Catholic Church in 1789; and his see was raised to an archbishopric in 1808.
He was the first man to hold episcopal office in that Church in the United States. Right Rev. Samuel Claggett was consecrated bishop of Maryland in the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1789, being the first man to receive such consecration in the United States. In 1830 a desire for a greater particination of the laity in the government of the Methodist de nomination led to a division and to the organ ization in Baltimore of the Methodist Protest ant Church. Colored churches were organized under some of the above-named denomina tions during the 19th century, most of the churches being either Methodist or Baptist. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest de nomination in its membership, and among the Protestant denominations, the Methodist, Epis copalian, Lutheran, Baptist, Reformed, Pres byterian and United Brethren, in the order named, lead in their membership. Sunday schools were first instituted in Baltimore about 1815. There are over 2,500 Sunday schools now in the State.
Charities and Board of State Aid and Charities was established in 1900. The policy of the State has been to subsidize private institutions more than has been the case in most other portions of the Union. For the insane, there are three State-owned asy lums: for whites at Catonsville (Spring Grove) in Baltimore County, at Sykesville, in Carroll County at Springfield, and at Cam bridge in Dorchester County, and one for col ored persons at Crownsville in Anne Arundel County. There are several private hospitals for the insane, the most important of which is the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, which has a large endowment and is located near Towson, in Baltimore County. The State penitentiary is located in Baltimore city; the house of correction, for minor offenses, is lo cated near Jessups, in Anne Arundel County. A reformatory school for white boys is found at Loch Raven, in Baltimore County, and one for colored boys at Cheltenham, in Prince George's County. A similar school for white girls is in Baltimore County, and one for col ored girls at Melvale, in Baltimore city. Saint Mary's Industrial School for Boys, in Baltimore city, is an important reformatory for boys un der the control of the Roman Catholic Church. Each county, as well as Baltimore city, pos sesses a jail. There is an almshouse for each county and for Baltimore city. The Baltimore city hospitals are paid to provide beds for the indigent sick. For tubercular patients there is a private sa' nitarium at Eudowood, in Bald more County, and one owned by the State at Sabillasville, in Frederick County. The Fed erated Charities of Baltimore city are very ef ficient, and the Henry Watson's Aid Society does an important work. There are also many lesser benevolent institutions.