Maryland Jury Health
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In the trial of all criminal cases, the Jury shall be the Judges of Law, as well as of fact, except that the Court may pass upon the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction.
The right of trial by Jury of all issues of fact in civil proceedings in the several Courts of Law in this State, where the amount in controversy exceeds the sum of $15,000, shall be inviolably preserved.
—Maryland Constitution Declaration of Rights, Article 23
Legal Resources
- Constitution: Maryland State Constitution
- Code/Statutes: Code of Maryland
- Legislature: Maryland General Assembly
- Judiciary: Maryland Courts
- U.S. District Courts: District of Maryland
- Rules of Criminal Procedure: Criminal Causes
- Rules of Civil Procedure: Circuit Court, District Court
Maryland Jury News
Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera has issued an order suspending trials by jury across the board in Maryland state courts for AT LEAST another four months.
The state of Maryland has suspended trials by jury until next year due to a coronavirus surge in the state, but it continues to put accused persons, attorneys, and staff at risk by continuing to hold hearings over such minor charges as theft valued at $2 or driving with a suspended license that is no longer suspended.
View more Maryland jury-related news.
COVID-19 Information
State Court Rules by Jury Type
Status as of 22 December 2020.
| Criminal Trial by Jury | Criminal trials by jury are suspended until AT LEAST 4 January 2021. (Fifth Amended AO dated 22 December 2020) |
| Civil Trial by Jury | Civil trials by jury are suspended until AT LEAST 4 January 2021. (Fifth Amended AO dated 22 December 2020) |
| Grand Juries | Grand juries may continue, and new grand juries may be seated. (Fifth Amended AO dated 22 December 2020) |
Additional information available from the Maryland Judiciary:
- Administrative Orders affecting the courts
- News Releases
- Other COVID-19 information
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland Rules by Jury Type
Status as of 24 November 2020.
| Criminal Trial by Jury | All in-court hearings and proceedings are suspended until AT LEAST 15 January 2021. Order provides no details on which proceedings will be transferred to virtual formats and which postponed. |
| Civil Trial by Jury | All in-court hearings and proceedings are suspended until AT LEAST 15 January 2021. Order provides no details on which proceedings will be transferred to virtual formats and which postponed. |
| Grand Juries | All in-court hearings and proceedings are suspended until AT LEAST 15 January 2021. Order provides no details on which proceedings will be transferred to virtual formats and which postponed. |
Additional information available from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland:
Speedy Trial
Time Limits
- to set a trial date:
- 30 days after the earlier of appearance of counsel or the first appearance of the defendant before the circuit court, per
- for speedy trial:
- 180 days after the earlier of appearance of counsel or the first appearance of the defendant before the circuit court, per
- Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure § 6-103
- Maryland Rules, Rule 4-271
- 180 days after the earlier of appearance of counsel or the first appearance of the defendant before the circuit court, per
COVID-19-Related Changes to Speedy Trial Rules
Status as of 14 November 2020.
- Deadlines for offering jury trials to defendants have been extended by judicial orders.
- Days that the judiciary decided that jury trials could not be offered to defendants due to the COVID-19 health emergency do not count against the time remaining for the start of a criminal jury trial.
- Deadlines for jury trials that where pending trial on March 12, 2020 or initiated after that date and resumed on October 5, 2020 were also suspended an additional 30 days from October 5, 2020 to November 4, 2020.
