# Courts and Judicial Proceedings (GCJ)

## Title 8. Juries and Jurors

### Subtitle 5

#### Section 8-501

(a) An employer may not deprive an individual of employment or coerce, intimidate, or threaten to discharge an individual because the individual:

  (1) Loses employment time in responding to a summons under this title or attending, or being in proximity to, a circuit court for jury service under this title; or

  (2) Exercises a right to refrain from work under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) An employer may not require an individual who is summoned and appears for jury service for 4 or more hours, including traveling time, to work an employment shift that begins:

  (1) On or after 5 p.m. on the day of the individual's appearance for jury service; or

  (2) Before 3 a.m. on the day following the individual's appearance for jury service.

(c) A person who violates any provision of this section is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

#### Section 8-502

(a) An employer may not require an employee to use the employee's annual, sick, or vacation leave to respond to a summons under this title for jury service.

(b) A person who violates any provision of this section is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

#### Section 8-503

(a) A person who is summoned for jury service under this title may not fail to return a completed juror qualification form.

(b) A jury judge may order a person who violates any provision of this section to appear and show cause for each violation.

(c) A person who fails to show good cause for a violation of this section is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or both.

#### Section 8-504

(a) A person may not fail to appear for jury service as summoned under this title.

(b) A jury judge may order a person who violates any provision of this section to appear and show cause for each violation.

(c) A person who fails to show good cause for a violation of this section is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 60 days or both.

#### Section 8-505

(a) A person who is summoned for jury service under this title may not fail to complete jury service as directed.

(b) A jury judge may order a person who violates any provision of this section to appear and show cause for each violation.

(c) A person who fails to show good cause for a violation of this section is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or both.

#### Section 8-506

(a) A person may not willfully misrepresent a material fact on a juror qualification form for the purpose of avoiding or obtaining service as a juror under this title.

(b) A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or both.

#### Section 8-507

(a) A person may not disclose any content of a grand jury proceeding.

(b) A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both.

(c) This section does not prevent:

  (1) A grand jury from submitting a report as required by law; or

  (2) Any other governmental unit or person making a disclosure authorized by law.

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Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)