Towson Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you are facing criminal charges in Towson, your case will be heard just blocks from where you are standing. Towson is the seat of Baltimore County government, and both the Circuit Court for Baltimore County and the Towson District Court sit within the county courts complex at the center of town. Walsh-Little Law represents clients charged with crimes in Towson and throughout Baltimore County.
David Walsh-Little has spent his career in Maryland’s courts, including over a decade with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender and more than four years as an Assistant Federal Public Defender. He appears regularly in the Towson courthouses and brings that direct familiarity to every case he handles here.
If you are facing charges in Towson, contact Walsh-Little Law at 410-205-9337 for a free, confidential consultation.
Towson: Where Baltimore County Criminal Cases Are Decided
Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County, and that has a practical consequence for anyone facing charges here. Every felony case in the county, and every case in which a defendant elects a jury trial, is heard in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County on Bosley Avenue in Towson. Someone arrested in Dundalk, Catonsville, or Parkville may well find that their case ends up being decided in Towson.
Towson is also its own community, not just a courthouse district. It is home to Towson University and Goucher College, a dense retail and restaurant corridor along York Road, and the interchange where the Baltimore Beltway meets the county’s main north-south routes. Charges that arise here often reflect that mix: impaired driving stops on I-695 and York Road, alcohol and identification offenses involving students, and disorderly conduct or assault allegations coming out of the bar district on a weekend night.
One point that causes real confusion: Baltimore County and Baltimore City are entirely separate jurisdictions. A Towson arrest is prosecuted by the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office and heard in Baltimore County courts, not in the city. The prosecutors, the judges, and the local practices are different, and that difference matters when you choose a defense attorney.
The Towson Courthouses: Where Your Case Will Be Heard
Both of the courts that handle Baltimore County criminal matters sit in the county courts complex in Towson, within a short walk of one another.
Circuit Court for Baltimore County
The Circuit Court is located at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. It handles every felony case in Baltimore County, cases appealed from the District Court, and any case where the defendant has elected a jury trial. Circuit Court matters involve grand jury indictments, formal discovery, pre-trial motions, and trial before a judge or jury. If you were arrested anywhere in the county and your case is serious enough to reach the Circuit Court, this is where it will be decided.
District Court in Towson
The Towson District Court sits within the same courts complex and handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. District Court cases are decided by a judge alone, with no jury. Baltimore County also operates District Courts in Essex and Catonsville, so where your District Court case is heard depends on where in the county you were charged. Towson handles matters arising in the central part of the county.
For charges carrying a potential sentence of more than 90 days, a defendant may elect a jury trial, which moves the case from the District Court to the Circuit Court on Bosley Avenue. That election is a strategic decision worth discussing with an attorney before your first appearance.
If you were arrested for DUI or DWI in Towson, a separate administrative case with the Maryland MVA runs alongside the criminal charge. You have 10 days from the date of the stop to request that hearing, and missing the deadline results in an automatic license suspension. Contact Walsh-Little Law promptly to preserve that deadline.
Reviews
David is a great lawyer to work with. He's very attentive and on top of things. He cares about his clients and is very knowledgeable. Thank you, David
I recommend David's criminal defense and DWI defense services.
Baltimore criminal defense lawyer David Walsh-Little first came to my attention over 25 years ago, when I learned about his legal assistance to Plowshares activists. Since that time, I have occasionally communicated with him and then talked with David in depth on my podcast.
I can confidently recommend criminal defendants to David for Maryland matters for which I do not offer assistance.
Criminal Defense Practice Areas in Towson
Walsh-Little Law handles the full range of criminal matters heard in the Towson courts, including:
DUI and DWI Defense
Towson sits at the junction of the Baltimore Beltway (I-695), York Road, and Dulaney Valley Road, and all three see steady impaired-driving enforcement. Late-night stops coming out of the York Road and Allegheny Avenue restaurant corridor are common. David examines every DUI case for the legality of the stop, the administration and calibration of breath testing, field sobriety procedure, and MVA hearing strategy.
Drug Charges Defense
Drug cases in Towson range from simple possession to possession with intent to distribute. Many begin as traffic stops on the Beltway or as searches connected to student housing near the universities. David examines every drug case for Fourth Amendment search problems, questions of constructive possession where a vehicle or residence is shared, and eligibility for diversion or treatment alternatives.
Alcohol and Identification Offenses
With Towson University and Goucher College nearby, Towson sees a steady volume of underage drinking, false identification, open container, and disorderly conduct charges. These are often a young person’s first contact with the criminal system, and the collateral effects on schooling, financial aid, and future employment can outlast the case itself. Depending on the facts and the individual’s record, resolutions that avoid a lasting conviction may be available.
Gun Crimes
Maryland’s firearms laws are strict and apply fully in Baltimore County. Traffic stops along I-695 that lead to the discovery of a firearm are a recurring source of charges. Some of these cases also carry potential federal exposure, which is worth assessing early.
Violent Crimes and Assault
Assault charges in Towson frequently arise from altercations in and around the bar and restaurant district, or from domestic allegations. Felony assault and robbery charges are tried in the Circuit Court on Bosley Avenue.
Federal Charges
Some Baltimore County cases are prosecuted federally rather than in Towson, particularly larger drug or firearms allegations. Those matters move to the U.S. District Court in Baltimore. David spent more than four years as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and handles cases in both systems.
Areas Near Towson We Serve
Walsh-Little Law represents clients from Towson and the surrounding communities in central Baltimore County, including:
- Arbutus
- Catonsville
- Dundalk
- Essex
- Lansdowne
- Lutherville-Timonium
- Middle River
- Overlea
- Parkville
- Perry Hall
- Randallstown
- Rosedale
- Towson (county seat)
- White Marsh
Charges from anywhere in the county can end up in the Towson courts. For an overview of how criminal cases are handled county-wide, including the Essex and Catonsville District Courts, see our Baltimore County criminal defense page.
Why Choose Walsh-Little Law for Your Towson Defense
David Walsh-Little has spent his career defending people accused of crimes in Maryland’s state and federal courts. That background shapes how he approaches a Towson case:
- Over a decade with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, including three years as Chief of the Felony Trial Division in the Baltimore City office
- More than four years as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland
- Regular practice in the Baltimore County courts in Towson, in both the Circuit Court and the District Court
- Early training under civil rights attorney William M. Kunstler, which shaped a client-centered approach to defense
- A direct attorney-client relationship: you work with David, not a paralegal or a junior associate
Every case is different, and the options available depend on the specific facts, the charge, and your record. Early action matters, because the sooner David can review the evidence, the more options may be available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions: Criminal Defense in Towson
Where will my Towson criminal case be heard?
Both Baltimore County courts sit in the county courts complex in Towson. Felony charges, appeals from the District Court, and any case where you elect a jury trial are heard in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County at 401 Bosley Avenue. Misdemeanors, traffic matters, and preliminary hearings are handled in the Towson District Court nearby. Because Towson is the county seat, cases that begin anywhere in Baltimore County can end up being decided here.
Is a Towson charge the same as a Baltimore City charge?
I am a Towson University student facing a charge. What should I know?
I was arrested for DUI in Towson. How quickly do I need to act?
Does Walsh-Little Law handle both state and federal charges?
Contact a Towson Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
If you are facing criminal charges in Baltimore County, the right defense starts with understanding the specific courts and prosecutors involved in your case. Walsh-Little Law represents clients throughout Baltimore County in both state and federal court.
Call Walsh-Little Law at 410-205-9337 for a free, confidential consultation. David will review your charges, explain what to expect in Baltimore County courts, and help you understand your defense options.
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Disclaimer: The Law Office of David Walsh-Little is a Maryland Limited Liability Company established for the practice of law. The information on this website is for general information only. The content on this site is not legal advice and should not be construed as such. Visitors to this site should not rely on its content when making legal decisions. Access to the information on this website is not intended to, and does not create, an attorney-client relationship between the Law Office of David Walsh-Little, LLC and any other person or entity.
