The Court of Appeals shall be composed of seven judges, one from
the First Appellate Judicial Circuit consisting of Caroline, Cecil,
Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and
Worcester Counties; one from the Second Appellate Judicial Circuit
consisting of Baltimore and Harford Counties; one from the Third
Appellate Judicial Circuit, consisting of Allegany, Carroll, Frederick,
Garrett, Howard, and Washington Counties; one from the Fourth Appellate
Judicial Circuit, consisting of Prince George's County; one from the
Fifth Appellate Judicial Circuit, consisting of Anne Arundel, Calvert,
Charles, and St. Mary's Counties; one from the Sixth Appellate
Judicial Circuit, consisting of Baltimore City; and one from the
Seventh Appellate Judicial Circuit, consisting of Montgomery County.
The Judges of the Court of Appeals shall be residents of their
respective Appellate Judicial Circuits. The term of each Judge of the
Court of Appeals shall begin on the date of his qualification. One of
the Judges of the Court of Appeals shall be designated by the Governor
as the Chief Judge. The jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals shall be
co-extensive with the limits of the State and such as now is or may
hereafter be prescribed by law. It shall hold its sessions in the City
of Annapolis at such time or times as it shall from time to time by
rule prescribe. Its session or sessions shall continue not less than
ten months in each year, if the business before it shall so require,
and it shall be competent for the judges temporarily to transfer their
sittings elsewhere upon sufficient cause. The salary of each Judge of
the Court of Appeals shall be that now or hereafter prescribed by the
General Assembly and shall not be diminished during his continuance in
office. Five of the judges shall constitute a quorum, and five judges
shall sit in each case unless the Court shall direct that an additional
judge or judges sit for any case. The concurrence of a majority of
those sitting shall be sufficient for the decision of any cause, and an
equal division of those sitting in a case has the effect of affirming
the decision appealed from if there is no application for reargument as
hereinafter provided. In any case where there is an equal division or a
three to two division of the Court a reargument before the full Court
of seven judges shall be granted to the losing party upon application
as a matter of right.
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