Does the law protect my employment if I am on jury service?
PROTECTIONS: The law has several protections for employees. Your employer cannot:
- Fire you (or coerce, intimidate or threaten to fire you) because you lost time from work as a result of attending court for jury service or because you had to be in proximity to the court for jury service.
- Fire you (or coerce, intimidate of threaten to fire you) if you exercise your right (under certain circumstances) not to work on a day on which you are on jury service.
- Require you to use your leave (annual, sick or vacation) for jury service.
- Under certain circumstances, require you to work on a day on which you are on jury service. If you are summoned and you appear for jury service for 4 or more hours, including traveling time, your employer cannot request you to work an employment shift that begins:
- On or after 5 p.m. on the day of your appearance for jury service; or
- Before 3 a.m. on the day after your appearance for jury service.
PAY: Your employer does not have to pay you for the time that you are on jury service, although some employers do pay their employees for the time the employees are on jury service.
LAWS: The protections are found in Maryland Annotated Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, Sections 8-501 and 8-502. Any person who violates these laws may be finds up to $1,000.
DOCUMENTATION: The Jury Office can issue you a certificate that documents the number of days you were on a jury or required to be available for jury service. You can provide this certificate if your employer wants documentation of your jury service.

Show All Answers

1. How often can I be called for jury duty?
2. When and where do I report for jury duty?
3. Who is qualified to serve as a juror?
4. Who is disqualified from jury duty?
5. Who is exempt from jury duty?
6. How do I get to the courthouse?
7. Where do I enter the courthouse?
8. What if I cannot report for jury duty?
9. Can I change the date of my jury service?
10. Does the law protect my employment if I am on jury service?
11. What will happen when I get to court?
12. What should I do if I have children?
13. What should I wear for jury duty?
14. What can I bring to the courthouse?
15. Should I bring lunch?
16. Where can I smoke?
17. What if I have a personal emergency?
18. What if my family has an emergency while I’m in a trial?
19. How will I know if the court is closed in an emergency?
20. I just received a summons. Why me?
21. My summons says Grand Jury; I got one before that said TRIAL Jury. What's the difference?
22. What is the significance of my Group?
23. How long must I serve as a juror?