Under certain very limited circumstances, the court can excuse you from jury service.             

• You must show that an excusal is necessary because of extreme inconvenience, public necessity, or undue hardship.
• Being excused is intended to be used only for the most serious of situations.  It is not a way to avoid jury service because it is inconvenient or you do not want to serve.
• Being excused does not mean that you will never be called for jury service.  An excusal is good only for the period for which it is necessary.  When that period ends, you will be called for jury service.

If you believe that your circumstances meet the criteria for being excused, contact the jury office at 301-932-3203 for more information.

Your date of jury service sometimes can be changed if there is a pressing reason, for example, a previously scheduled medical procedure or travel plans.  In some circumstances, you can make this change online.           

• You can go online to make a one-time change in your report date.  CLICK HERE to make the change online.
• You can also contact the jury office at 301-932-3203 to discuss your situation.

Contact the Jury Office at 301-932-3203 for questions or concerns about your jury service.

Yes.

• Per diem. You will receive a reimbursement (the “per diem”) of $30 for each day of jury service.  If you serve on one trial jury for more than 5 days, the per diem becomes $50 beginning on the 6th day of jury service. 
• Generous Juror Program.  Charles County has a voluntary program (called the Generous Juror Program) which permits jurors to donate the per diem to the local department of social services.  The money is used by the Department for the children it serves.  The money may be used, for example, for school supplies, special tutoring or recreational activities.  A juror's participation is voluntary.

The length of jury service is for one week.

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 or 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 require 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.  These protections are found in Maryland Annotated Code, Courts & Judicial Proceeding Article, Sections 8-501 and 8-502.  Any person who violates these laws may be fined 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.

You can generally bring an electronic device (for example, laptop, cell phone, MP3 player), but use is limited or prohibited in certain areas.

• Electronic devices must be turned off, inoperable, and not used in a courtroom.  In some courthouses, they are not permitted in the courtroom even if turned off.
• Electronic devices cannot be brought into the jury deliberation room. 
• If you violate the restrictions, your electronic device may be confiscated by security or other court personnel, and you may be arrested.
• Be conscious of noise – if you use your electronic device to listen to music, videos, etc., you must use headphones so you do not disturb courthouse staff or your fellow jurors.
• While you are on jury service, including while you are in the jury assembly area, you cannot use your electronic device to research, investigate or communicate regarding any case for which you might serve on the jury.  You cannot, for example, research a case using online media outlets or other websites.  You also cannot communicate about a case on a blog or using social networking, Twitter, text, instant messaging, telephone or email, etc.

Generally, you should plan to be at the courthouse all day for every day that you are told to report.  Except for a brief lunch break, do not expect to be permitted to leave to run errands or pick your children up from school, etc.