Cal. Civ. Code § 8-604
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) A demand for trial by jury under this subtitle shall be subject to review by the District Court. (b) If the jury demand is filed at the first scheduled appearance in accordance with § 8-602(b) of this subtitle, then any party to the action contesting the jury demand shall, at the first scheduled appearance, object to the jury demand and describe the basis of the invalidity of the jury demand. (c) If the jury demand is filed at a time other than the first scheduled appearance in accordance with § 8-602(a) or (b) of this subtitle, then any other party to the action contesting the validity of the jury demand shall file an “objection to jury demand” within 10 days of the filing of the jury demand which such objection shall describe the basis of the invalidity of the jury demand, provided, however, that the “objection to jury demand” shall be filed at the first scheduled appearance if that occurs prior to the expiration of the period set forth in § 8-602 of this subtitle. (d) In the event that a jury demand and an “objection to jury demand” is filed in accordance with § 8-602 of this subtitle and subsection (b) of this section: (1) If an “objection to jury demand” is filed under subsection (b) of this section, the court shall consider the validity of the jury demand at the time of the first scheduled appearance of the parties; (2) If an “objection to jury demand” is filed under subsection (c) of this section at a time other than trial, the court shall set the objection in for a hearing before the trial; or (3) If the “objection to jury demand” is filed at the time of trial under subsection (c) of this section, the court shall consider the validity of the jury demand at trial. (e) In the event a jury demand is filed prior to the first scheduled appearance and the time for filing an objection under subsection (c) of this section shall not have expired prior to the first scheduled appearance, and all other parties to the action file a “nonobjection to jury demand” at least 1 day prior to the first scheduled appearance, or if the time for filing an objection under subsection (c) of this section shall have expired prior to the first scheduled appearance and no objection having been filed, then the action shall be removed from the docket and transferred to the circuit court. (f) In the event that a jury demand is made under this subtitle, the District Court shall not be divested of jurisdiction and the matter shall not be removed to the circuit court until such time as the District Court has reviewed the jury demand, provided, however, that any hearing on the validity of a jury demand under this subtitle must occur within 10 days of the date of jury demand. (g) (1) The District Court’s review of the validity of a jury demand shall be limited to: (i) Timeliness of the jury demand; (ii) The amount in controversy; and (iii) The existence of a valid waiver. (2) In the event that the District Court finds that the jury demand is invalid, the matter shall proceed in the District Court; however, upon conclusion of the District Court trial any party filing a jury demand determined invalid by the court may include the validity of the jury demand in an appeal, as set forth under the Maryland Rules.
Maryland Real Property § 8-604 establishes the procedural framework governing how jury trial demands are reviewed in landlord-tenant cases that begin in District Court. When a party requests a jury trial, opposing parties have specific windows—either at the first scheduled court appearance or within 10 days of the jury demand filing—to formally object and explain why the demand is invalid. The District Court retains jurisdiction and evaluates the demand's validity based on three factors: whether it was timely filed, whether the amount in controversy qualifies, and whether a valid waiver of jury rights exists. If the demand is found valid and no objections remain, the case transfers to circuit court; if invalid, the case stays in District Court but the challenging party may appeal that ruling after trial.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-604, property owners and managers involved in District Court landlord-tenant proceedings should be aware that a tenant's jury demand triggers a strict procedural timeline for any challenge. A compliant operator generally monitors the date a jury demand is filed and, if contesting it, raises a formal written objection describing the specific basis for invalidity—either at the first scheduled appearance or within 10 days of the filing, whichever applies. Operators also typically track whether the case may be transferred to circuit court, since that shift can significantly affect the timeline and venue of the proceeding.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-604 of the Maryland Real Property Code gives tenants the right to demand a jury trial in covered proceedings, subject to District Court review of whether that demand meets the legal requirements for timeliness, the amount in controversy, and the absence of a prior waiver. If a landlord objects to a tenant's jury demand, the court will schedule a hearing on the objection's validity, and a tenant whose demand is rejected may still preserve that issue for appeal after the District Court trial concludes. Tenants navigating this process may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Maryland District Court procedures to understand the applicable deadlines under § 8-604.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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