Each Circuit Court judge is appointed by the Governor and then must stand for election. The judge may be opposed formally by one or more qualified members of the bar. Candidates' names are placed on the Primary ballot, and members of the Democratic and Republican parties may vote for them. The winner of each party's primary advances to the General Election, and then all registered voters may vote. The successful candidate is elected to a fifteen-year term. There are 8 districts, divided along county lines, and judges are elected by county. The number of judges per county varies from 1 to 32, depending on population. There are 153 Circuit Court judges in Maryland.
