In a contested trial, the judge, before or at the time judgment is entered, shall prepare and file or dictate into the record a brief statement of the reasons for the decision and the basis of determining any damages.
Rule 3-522.Decision
District Court · Last amended January 1, 2002 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3-522 requires a District Court judge, in a contested bench trial, to give a brief written or on-the-record statement of the reasons for the decision and how any damages were figured.
Full Text of Rule 3-522
Amendment History
Amended Nov. 1, 2001, effective Jan. 1, 2002.
Committee Note & Source
Source. This Rule is derived from former M.D.R. 564 c.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3-522 requires a District Court judge who has just finished a contested bench trial to explain the ruling. Before entering judgment, or at the same time, the judge must put in writing — or dictate into the record — a short statement of why the case came out the way it did and how any damages award was calculated.
The rule applies only to contested trials decided by a judge, not to cases resolved by a jury, by agreement, by default, or on a motion that ends the case without a full trial. The bar is deliberately modest: a "brief statement," not a full opinion. Its purpose is to give the losing party, and any court reviewing the case later, enough insight into the judge's reasoning to see whether the result turns on the facts, the law, or the math behind a damages figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the judge have to write a full opinion explaining the ruling?
No. Rule 3-522 calls for a brief statement of the reasons for the decision and the basis for any damages award, not a detailed opinion. A short account of the controlling facts and how damages were calculated is enough.
When does the judge have to give this explanation?
Before or at the same time judgment is entered. The judge can satisfy the rule by preparing a written statement and filing it, or by dictating the reasons into the record.
Does this rule apply to jury trials or default judgments?
No. It applies only to a contested trial decided by the judge. Jury verdicts, default judgments, and cases resolved without a contested trial don't trigger this requirement.
Why does the reason-giving requirement matter to the losing party?
It tells the losing party what the decision rested on, which matters for deciding whether to move for a new trial under Rule 3-533, ask the court to alter or amend the judgment under Rule 3-534, or appeal. Without a stated basis, a party is left guessing at why the case came out the way it did.
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
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