District Court · Last amended July 1, 2023 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3-533 lets a party ask the District Court for a new trial within ten days of judgment, sets out how grounds must be raised, and governs what relief the court can order.
(1)Generally. — Subject to subsection (a)(2) of this Rule, any party may file a motion for new trial within ten days after entry of judgment. A party whose judgment has been amended on a motion to amend the judgment may file a motion for new trial within ten days after entry of the amended judgment.
(2)Appeal Time of Less than Ten Days Provided by Statute. — If a statute provides for an appeal time of less than ten days after entry of judgment, a motion under this Rule, even if timely filed, does not toll the time to appeal unless the motion is filed within the statutory time period allowed for an appeal. Cross references. — For shorter appeal times provided by statute, see Code, Real Property Article, §§ 8-401 and 8A-1701. See Rule 7-104 (c) concerning the time for filing a notice of appeal when a motion has been filed under this Rule.
(b)Grounds. — All grounds advanced in support of the motion shall be filed in writing within the time prescribed for the filing of the motion, and no other grounds shall thereafter be assigned without leave of court.
(c)Disposition. — The court may set aside all or part of any judgment entered and grant a new trial to all or any of the parties and on all of the issues, or some of the issues if the issues are fairly severable. If a partial new trial is granted, the judge may direct the entry of judgment as to the remaining parties or issues or stay the entry of judgment until after the new trial.
(d)Costs. — If a trial or appellate court has ordered the payment of costs as a part of its action in granting a new trial, the trial court may order all further proceedings stayed until the costs have been paid.
Amendment History
Amended Nov. 12, 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2004; April 21, 2023, effective July 1, 2023.
Committee Note & Source
Source. This Rule is derived as follows:
Section (a) is derived in part from the 1966 version of Fed. R. Civ. P. 59 (b) and is in part new. It replaces former M.D.R. 567 a.
Section (b) is derived from former M.D.R. 567 b.
Section (c) is derived from former M.D.R. 567 c.
Section (d) is derived from former M.D.R. 567 d.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3-533 lets a party who lost at trial ask the District Court for a new trial. The motion must be filed within ten days after judgment is entered — or, if the judgment was later amended on a motion to amend, within ten days of the amended judgment. Every ground supporting the motion must be put in writing within that same ten-day window; the court won't consider grounds raised later unless it gives permission.
The rule also guards appeal rights in cases where a statute sets a shorter deadline to note an appeal. If that statutory deadline is less than ten days, filing a motion for new trial pauses the appeal clock only when the motion itself is filed within that shorter statutory period — filing on day nine under the general ten-day rule doesn't help if the statute only allows five.
If the court grants the motion, it can set aside all or part of the judgment and order a new trial for some or all of the parties, on some or all of the issues, as long as the issues can be separated from one another. When only part of the case gets a new trial, the judge can either let judgment stand on the rest right away or hold off entering it until after the new trial wraps up. And if a trial or appellate court has made paying costs a condition of getting a new trial, the trial court can freeze further proceedings until those costs are paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a motion for new trial in Maryland District Court?
Ten days after the judgment is entered. If the judgment was later amended, the ten days runs from the amended judgment instead.
Can I add new arguments to my motion after I file it?
Only with the court's permission. Rule 3-533 requires all grounds for the motion to be filed in writing within the original ten-day deadline; grounds raised afterward need leave of court.
Does filing a motion for new trial always pause my deadline to appeal?
Not automatically. If a statute gives you less than ten days to appeal, the motion pauses that appeal clock only if it was filed within that shorter statutory window, not merely within the general ten-day period this rule allows.
What can the court do if it grants a new trial on only some issues?
If the issues are severable, the court can limit the new trial to those issues and leave the rest of the judgment alone. The judge then decides whether to enter judgment on the untouched issues right away or wait until the new trial is over.
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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