(a) Request for recusal. — A party who believes that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had before the judge to whom the action has been assigned may request that judge’s recusal. If the judge grants the request, the action shall be reassigned by the administrative judge of the district or a person designated by the administrative judge.
Rule 3-505.Disqualification of judge
District Court · Last amended July 1, 2026 · Last verified July 13, 2026
This rule prints two full, separately-dated versions in the official compilation (a pending-amendment straddle); both are shown below.
In one sentenceRule 3-505 lays out how a party asks a District Court judge to step aside, and what happens if that request is refused.
Full Text of Rule 3-505
Rule 3-505. Disqualification of judge — Effective until July 1, 2026
(b) Motion and affidavit. — Without a request for recusal, or upon denial of a request by the assigned judge, a party may at any time before trial file a motion for reassignment with the administrative judge of the district or, if the assigned judge is the administrative judge of the district, with the Chief Judge of the District Court. The motion shall be accompanied by an affidavit alleging that the party cannot receive a fair and impartial trial before the assigned judge and setting forth reasonable grounds for the allegation. If the motion is granted, the action shall be reassigned.
(c) Further reassignment by another party. — When an action is reassigned upon motion of one party, any other party may obtain further reassignment pursuant to this Rule.
Rule 3-505. Disqualification of judge — Effective July 1, 2026
(a) Request for recusal. — A party asserting that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had before the judge to whom the action has been assigned may request recusal of that judge pursuant to Rule 1-315. If the judge grants the request, the action shall be reassigned by the administrative judge of the district or a person designated by the administrative judge.
(b) Motion and affidavit. — Without a request for recusal, or upon denial of a request by the assigned judge, a party may at any time before trial file a motion for reassignment with the administrative judge of the district or, if the assigned judge is the administrative judge of the district, with the Chief Judge of the District Court. The motion shall be accompanied by an affidavit alleging that the party cannot receive a fair and impartial trial before the assigned judge and setting forth reasonable grounds for the allegation. If the motion is granted, the action shall be reassigned.
(c) Further reassignment by another party. — When an action is reassigned upon motion of one party, any other party may obtain further reassignment pursuant to this Rule.
Amendment History
Effective until July 1, 2026
Amended March 1, 2024, effective July 1, 2024.
Effective July 1, 2026
Amended March 1, 2024, effective July 1, 2024; February 19, 2026, effective July 1, 2026.
Committee Note & Source
Effective until July 1, 2026
Source. This Rule is derived from former M.D.R. 542.
Effective July 1, 2026
Source. This Rule is derived from former M.D.R. 542.
Plain-English Summary
A party who doubts that a judge can give the case a fair and impartial trial has two ways to raise it under Rule 3-505. The first stop is the assigned judge: a party can ask that judge to recuse directly. If the judge agrees, the administrative judge of the district (or someone that judge designates) reassigns the case to someone else.
If the judge declines to step aside, or if the party skips that step, the next option is a formal motion for reassignment, filed with the administrative judge of the district. The motion has to be backed by an affidavit spelling out reasonable grounds for believing a fair trial is not possible before the assigned judge — a bare request is not enough. When the assigned judge is also the administrative judge of the district, the motion goes to the Chief Judge of the District Court instead, since it would not make sense to ask the same judge to rule on a motion about themselves.
Reassignment is not a one-shot remedy reserved for the first party who complains. If a case gets reassigned because one party moved for it, any other party in the case can seek further reassignment under this same process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ask a District Court judge to step aside from my case?
You can request recusal directly from the assigned judge. If that request is denied, or if you skip straight to a formal request, you can file a motion for reassignment with the administrative judge of the district, backed by an affidavit setting out reasonable grounds for believing you cannot get a fair and impartial trial before that judge.
What if the judge I want to disqualify is the administrative judge?
The motion goes to the Chief Judge of the District Court instead of the administrative judge, since the administrative judge should not be the one deciding a motion aimed at themselves.
Is a bare statement that I don't trust the judge enough to get reassignment?
No. The motion must be accompanied by an affidavit that sets out reasonable grounds for the allegation that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had before the assigned judge, not just an unsupported request.
If my case gets reassigned, can the other side ask for another judge too?
Yes. Once a case has been reassigned on one party's motion, any other party can seek further reassignment under the same rule.
Is there a deadline for requesting reassignment?
The motion can be filed at any time before trial.
Source & verification. Rule text, Committee Note, Source note, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Maryland Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Maryland. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: requesting judge recusal district court marylandmotion for reassignmentdisqualify a judge maryland district courtaffidavit for judicial disqualificationMD Rule 3-505