Jury Service| A Message from the Judiciary

See news stories on what the courts have done to protect your health and safety 

Effective Monday August 9, 2021, face masks are required to be worn by all (except children aged 2 and under), regardless of vaccination status, in the state courthouses and judicial facilities located in any Maryland county, including Baltimore City.

Between November 16, 2020, through April 23, 2021, all criminal and civil jury trials in the Circuit Courts throughout the State of Maryland were suspended due to the COVID-19 Emergency.  Effective April 26, 2021, all criminal and civil jury trials in the Circuit Courts will resume and courts will be fully operational. For further information, view the Fourth Amended Administrative Order on Lifting the Statewide Suspension of Jury Trials and Maintaining Grand Juries and view the Administrative Order on the Progressive Resumption of Full Function of Judiciary Operations Previously Restricted Due to the COVID-19 Emergency. 

Grand juries may continue at the discretion of the administrative judge or his or her designee. New grand juries may be empaneled as necessary, and grand juries that are currently convened may be extended by the administrative judge.

The Offices of the Clerks of the Circuit Courts and the clerks’ offices of the District Court are open to the public. Court and clerk activities shall proceed with continued restrictions to limit the concentration of individuals and allow social distancing, consistent with guidance of the CDC or MDH or both.

For up to date information relating to court business, operating status, and public and employee safety, visit the Maryland Judiciary Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates page.

Trial by jury is a foundation of our system of justice and is one of the reasons that our justice system is the finest in the world. While trial by jury is a right guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Maryland Declaration of Rights, serving on a jury is both a responsibility of being a citizen and an opportunity to serve the community. No special training, skills or legal knowledge are necessary to be a juror. All that is required is that you be willing to keep an open mind, to pay attention, and to make a decision based on the law and evidence that is presented. On behalf of the Maryland Judiciary, thank you for your jury service. 

 

---

See these news stories on what the courts have done to protect your health and safety as jury trials resume:

The Southern Maryland Chronicle
Calvert County Courthouse Begins Phase V Operations; Expansion of statewide Judiciary operations effective April 26, 2021
By: Calvert County Public Information Office, April 29, 2021

The Capital Gazette
'We’re going to be busy’: Anne Arundel courts restarts criminal, civil jury trials
By: Lilly Price, April 28, 2021

The Daily Record
Maryland courts return to full operations, face backlog
By: Associated Press, April 27, 2021

The Washington Post
As virus cases fall, Maryland tries to dig out of backlogged jury trials
By: Dan Morse, April 27, 2021

The Baltimore Sun
Facing a mountain of court cases, judges and juries across Maryland are returning to full operations
By: Tim Prudente, April 27, 2021

The Southern Maryland Chronicle
Jury trials resume in criminal and civil cases statewide
By: Maryland Judiciary, April 27, 2021

Baltimore Witness
Baltimore Circuit Court Resumes Trials with COVID Precautions
By: Andrew Michaels, April 26, 2021

CBS Baltimore
COVID Latest: Jury Trials For Criminal, Civil Cases In Maryland Resume April 26
By: Staff Writer, April 24, 2021

WBAL-Radio
Jury trials will resume in criminal, civil cases in Maryland
April 24, 2021

WTOP News
Maryland circuit courts to resume jury trials in criminal, civil cases
By: Abigail Constantino, April 23, 2021

FOX 45 News
Jury trials to resume in Maryland
By: Sinead Hawkins, April 23, 2021

47 ABC
Jury trials to resume in Maryland on April 26th
By: Hannah Cechini, April 20, 2021

Frederick News-Post
Criminal jury trials will soon begin. Six high-profile Frederick County cases on docket
By: Mary Grace Keller, March 18, 2021

Southern Maryland News
Calvert jurors to be selected at fairgrounds as trials resume
By: Marty Madden, March 10, 2021