Title 8. Juries and Jurors — Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-301 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–301LinkCopy Citation
(a)
At each interval set in a jury plan for a county, its jury commissioner shall have names selected from the source pool in the number that the jury commissioner decides will satisfy the needs for jury service for the interval.
(b)
Names selected under this section constitute a prospective juror pool.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-302 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–302LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In accordance with an agreement, if any, under § 8–213 of this title, a juror qualification form in substantially the following form shall be provided to each prospective juror:
Juror Qualification Form
Name:
Resident address:
Telephone: (home) _________ (work) _________ (cellular) _______
Age: _____ Date of Birth:__________
If you are over 70 years of age, do you wish to be exempted from jury services? _____Yes _____No
(U)
(S)
Citizen? _____Yes _____No
Able to comprehend, read, speak, and write English? _____Yes _____No
Highest level of education completed:
___ high school ___ college ___ graduate school ___ other
Occupation of prospective juror: __________
Name of employer: ___________
Occupation of spouse, if any: __________
Disability preventing satisfactory jury service? _____Yes _____No
Do you want an accommodation under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act? _____Yes _____No
Pending charge for a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding 1 year? _____Yes _____No
Conviction of crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding 1 year and received a sentence of imprisonment for more than 1 year and not legally pardoned? _____Yes _____No
Date of Conviction __________
_____Elected official of the federal Legislative Branch, as defined in 2 U.S.C. § 30a.
_____Active duty member of armed forces, as defined in § 9–901 of the State Government Article, exempted in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 982.
_____Active duty member of the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, exempted in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 982, as made applicable by 33 U.S.C. § 307(a)(6).
_____Member of Maryland’s organized militia exempted in accordance with Public Safety Article § 13–218.
Prior jury service within 3 preceding years: __________
Form completed by me _____ Another (name) _____ and, if another, why?
Under the penalties of perjury, the responses are true to the best of my knowledge
Signed:________________________________________________
Prospective Juror
Individual completing form for prospective juror:
This form must be completed, signed, and returned to the jury commissioner within 10 days after receipt. Documentation for excusal due to disability, exemption based on armed forces or militia service, pardons, and/or prior jury service must be attached.
(b)
A juror qualification form for a county may include other questions as the county’s jury plan requires.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-303 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–303LinkCopy Citation
Whenever it seems to a jury commissioner that there is an ambiguity, error, or omission in a person’s juror qualification form, the jury commissioner shall return the form to the person, with instructions to make each needed addition and other change, acknowledge all of the changes, and return the form to the jury commissioner within 10 days after receipt.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-304 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–304LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Whenever a person fails to return a completed juror qualification form as instructed, a jury commissioner may summons the person to appear before the jury commissioner or jury judge.
(b)
Whenever a person appears under this section, a jury commissioner or jury judge:
(1)
May require the person to complete, sign, and acknowledge a juror qualification form in the presence of the jury commissioner; and
(2)
If, at that time, it seems to the jury commissioner or jury judge to be warranted, may question the person but only as to responses to questions in the form and grounds for disqualification, excusal, exemption, or rescheduling.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-305 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–305LinkCopy Citation
Whenever a person appears for jury service, a jury commissioner or jury judge:
(1)
May require the person to complete, sign, and acknowledge a juror qualification form in the presence of the jury commissioner; and
(2)
If, at that time, it seems to the jury commissioner or jury judge to be warranted, may question the person but only as to responses to questions in the form and grounds for disqualification, excusal, exemption, or rescheduling.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-306 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–306LinkCopy Citation
An individual is exempt from jury service only if the individual:
(1)
Is at least 70 years old and asks the jury commissioner, in writing, for an exemption;
(2)
Is an elected official of the federal Legislative Branch, as defined in 2 U.S.C. § 30a;
(3)
Is an active duty member of the armed forces exempted in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 982; or
(4)
Is a member of the organized militia exempted in accordance with § 13-218 of the Public Safety Article.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-309 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–309LinkCopy Citation
An individual who is not disqualified, excused, or exempted under Part I of this subtitle is a qualified juror.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-310 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–310LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
At each interval set in a jury plan for a county, its jury commissioner shall have names of qualified jurors selected in the number that the jury commissioner decides will satisfy the needs for jury service during the interval.
(2)
Subject to § 8-421 of this title, a jury commissioner shall have enough names selected to allow parties to make peremptory challenges as allowed under this title or otherwise provided in the Maryland Rules.
(b)
Names selected under this section constitute a qualified juror pool.
(c)
(1)
Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a jury commissioner shall allocate names from the qualified juror pool to grand and trial juries as the jury plan provides.
(2)
Except as needed to complete service in a particular case or as otherwise provided in a jury plan, an individual may not be required, in any 3–year period, to serve or attend court for jury service more than once.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-311 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–311LinkCopy Citation
At the request of a trial judge, a jury commissioner may distribute to qualified jurors a questionnaire with regard to any matter, including a conviction or pending civil jury trial that may be a basis for disqualification as a juror in a particular case.
Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-314 (2026)
Title 8. Juries and Jurors
Subtitle 3. Prospective and Qualified Jurors
§ 8–314LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A jury commissioner shall document each addition or other change to information provided under this subtitle and each decision with regard to disqualification, exemption, or excusal from, or rescheduling of, jury service.
(b)
The jury commissioner of a county shall inform its jury judge of changes to information as provided in the county’s jury plan.
(c)
The jury commissioner of a county shall keep each record that the jury commissioner has used in connection with the jury service in accordance with the records retention and disposal schedule of the county.