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By
Sage Cho
- May 8, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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The Baltimore City Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse was temporarily evacuated following a fire alarm May 6, causing a pause in marriage ceremonies, courtroom hearings, and court filings.
The Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office announced the alarm at approximately 1:34 p.m. Fire trucks were parked outside both the Mitchell and the Cummings courthouses as staff with red flags led jurors toward the Baltimore War Memorial building as a safe space.
At approximately 3:17 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office sounded the all clear.
“The fire alarm situation is at the Mitchell Courthouse is under control,” said the notice. “A fire was reported on the 4th floor in room 438. A Sheriff’s Office employee put out the fire.”
Consequently, the building was reopened.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court Xavier A. Conaway commended employees and the Baltimore City Fire Department for their rapid response.
“It’s moments like these that remind us how deeply committed our public workers are, even when asked to stand in the rain or sun for hours because of outdated infrastructure,” said Conaway in a May 7 press release.
“ It shouldn’t be this way—not in Baltimore, not anywhere. The people who serve this city and those who rely on the court system every day deserve a safe, modern courthouse that reflects the dignity of the work being done inside.”
Baltimore City’s two courthouses, which were completed in 1900 and 1932, have been criticized as outdated and potentially dangerous.
The Mitchell courthouse was also evacuated on Feb. 24 and again on Feb. 25, after unspecified “maintenance issues” triggered a fire alarm.
“These kinds of disruptions come at a cost—not just in time and dollars, but in trust,” Conaway said. “Whether someone is coming to court for protection, to record a property deed, or to get married, they deserve a safe, reliable public space.”