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Circuit Court-Jury Duty

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1. How often can I be called for jury duty?

You are required to come to court for jury service only once within three years. If you have completed jury service in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County less than three years before the date you are summoned to appear, you may ask to be excused based on your previous service.
Provide the date of service and your badge ID on your qualification form and/or submit a copy of your date stamped summons.

2. When and where do I report for jury duty?

On the date of your summons, if your group must report, you must be in the Jury Assembly Room, Courthouse, Room M-2400, in Upper Marlboro by 7:30 a.m. Bring your summons with you!

3. Who is qualified to serve as a juror?

If you are a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old, and a resident of Prince George’s County on the date summoned, you are legally qualified to serve as a juror. You may not be prevented from serving because of your race, religion, sex, color, disability, economic status, or national origin.

4. Who is disqualified from jury duty?

Please see the Disqualifications page.

5. Who is exempt from jury duty?

Please see the Exemptions page.

6. How do I get to the courthouse?

Directions and areas for parking are included on the summons; please park at the Equestrian Center (Show Place Arena).

7. Where do I enter the courthouse?

Jurors are encouraged to enter the courthouse through the Marbury entrance. Bring your summons to show to the Security Officer.

8. What if I cannot report for jury duty?

You are expected to be at the courthouse on the date and time printed on the summons, unless your group was instructed not to report; in which case you will receive a notice the following year informing you of the date you are summoned to appear. If you have an emergency and you cannot come to court on your assigned date, call the Jury Office, 301-952-4385 (Mon. through Fri., 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). You will be assigned a new date for jury service.

9. Can I change the date of my jury service?

Your date of jury duty service sometimes can be changed if there is a pressing reason, for example, a previously scheduled medical procedure of travel plans. You can make this change online or by calling the Jury Office at 301-952-4385.
Note: These instructions do not apply of you were summoned for Grand Jury service.

10. 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.

11. What will happen when I get to court?

When you first enter the courthouse, you will go through a metal detector. You will be asked to put personal belongings in a tray and your handbag, briefcase or other objects may be put through an x-ray machine. Weapons, knives and any kind of sharp objects are prohibited. If you try to enter the courthouse with a weapon, etc., it will be confiscated and you may be arrested. This is for the security and safety of everyone in the courthouse. You will then be directed to the jury room (M2400) where you will be checked in by a jury clerk and given attendance. You will be directed to take a seat after which the orientation will take place.

12. What should I do if I have children?

Children are not allowed to come with you when you report for jury service. Childcare is not available at the courthouse. Please, do not bring children or adults needing care with you. If you cannot find childcare, or come to court as scheduled, please contact the Jury Office at 301-952-4385 to reschedule.

13. What should I wear for jury duty?

Please see the Acceptable Attire page.

14. What can I bring to the courthouse?

Please see the Electronic Devices page.

15. Should I bring lunch?

Jurors are permitted to bring their lunch into the Jury Lounge however; food and drinks are not permitted in the courtrooms. There are refrigerators and microwave ovens at the courthouse. Jurors who prefer to eat out will find that there are restaurants near the courthouse; Be sure to be back at the courthouse at the time the judge or Jury Office tells you to return. Please do not bring any glass containers.

16. Where can I smoke?

Smoking is not permitted inside the Courthouse. You will only be permitted to smoke when you go outside during any court recess.

17. What if I have a personal emergency?

Please see the Personal Emergencies page.

18. What if my family has an emergency while I’m in a trial?

Your family can call the Jury Office, and identify you by name. If possible, your family should also know the name of the judge presiding over the case; that will make it easier for us to find you.

19. How will I know if the court is closed in an emergency?

The courthouse may be closed if there is severe weather or another emergency. If you are serving on a jury as a trial juror, follow the trial judge’s instructions. Otherwise, you can find out if the courthouse is closed by: Calling the “call-in” number on your Juror Summons (301-952-4387), Public service announcements on your local television or radio station.

20. I just received a summons. Why me?

If you are an adult U.S. citizen living in Prince George's County, you are in our jury pool. Every three years, a computer may randomly choose you for jury duty.

21. My summons says Grand Jury; I got one before that said TRIAL Jury. What's the difference?

A Grand Jury has 23 people who serve once each week for a period of 4 months. By majority vote, a Grand Jury decides whether to indict or charge someone with a crime. If you have been summoned for Grand Jury, you have not yet been selected to serve. You will first attend an orientation on the date of your summons. At that time, yo may be excused or asked to return for final selection. A trial jury (previously called a Petit Jury) must reach a unanimous decision for a final verdict. In a criminal case, there will be 12 jurors, plus some alternate jurors. In a civil case, there will be 6 jurors, plus some alternates. While all jurors and alternates selected will hear the same evidence, alternate jurors may be excused before deliberations--the time when the jurors decide the verdict.

22. What is the significance of my Group?

Each group of jurors represents the number of people needed for a trial or group of trials. If that trial or those trials are cancelled for any reason, your group may not be needed. So, you must follow the instructions for your Group. However, if your Group is excused, you may receive another summons in the next calendar year.

23. How long must I serve as a juror?

If your group is required to report, you must come to the courthouse, without any other obligations, AT LEAST for that full day. Once you appear in the courthouse, you may only be excused by a judge or the Jury Commissioner. If jury selection extends beyond one day, you may be required to return daily until the entire jury is seated, or until the judge excuses you. If you are selected to serve on a trial, you must return for service daily until that trial concludes and the judge excuses you.