If you have been summoned for Montgomery County jury duty, you will report to the Circuit Court at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville, serve one day or one trial, and receive a $30 stipend for the day. Before any of that, you have to return the Juror Qualification Questionnaire within 10 days of receiving your summons and call in the night before your date to confirm your group is actually required to appear.1Montgomery County, Maryland. About Jury Service
Who Qualifies To Serve
Maryland law requires jurors to be at least 18, U.S. citizens, and residents of Montgomery County on the day they would be sworn in. You also have to speak, read, and write English well enough to follow the proceedings and complete the qualification form.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings 8-103
Criminal history can disqualify you. If you were convicted in any state or federal court of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison and actually received a sentence longer than one year, you cannot serve unless you have been pardoned. A pending charge for any crime carrying a possible sentence over one year also disqualifies you.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings 8-103 The test is the length of the possible sentence, not whether the offense is labeled a felony.
The Questionnaire and the 10-Day Deadline
Your summons carries a Juror Identification Number you will use to log in to the online juror portal or to complete the paper form. The questionnaire asks about contact information, employment, and the eligibility questions above. You must return it within 10 days of receiving the summons.1Montgomery County, Maryland. About Jury Service
The online portal confirms receipt right away and lets you upload documents supporting any excusal request. If you use the paper version, fill every field, sign it, and mail it back. Late or incomplete forms slow the process and can prompt a follow-up order from the court.
Getting Excused or Postponed
Maryland treats being excused and being postponed as two different things. An excusal releases you from the current summons but leaves you in the pool for the future. A deferral moves your service to a later date for a temporary conflict like planned travel or a work deadline.
Age, Military, and Medical Excusals
If you are 70 or older, you can request a permanent exemption by checking “Yes” on question 19 of the Juror Qualification Form and returning it to the Jury Commissioner before your service date.3Montgomery County, Maryland. Juror Qualification Form Active-duty military personnel may also be exempt, but a commanding officer has to complete a separate form confirming the conflict.4Maryland Courts. Jury Service FAQs
A disability excusal requires a written, signed statement from your healthcare provider explaining why you cannot serve even with a reasonable ADA accommodation, and how long the disability will last.3Montgomery County, Maryland. Juror Qualification Form
Deferrals for Temporary Conflicts
If your conflict is short-term, ask for a deferral instead. Submit a written request with your completed questionnaire and any supporting documentation within the same 10-day window.1Montgomery County, Maryland. About Jury Service The jury office decides whether the reason justifies rescheduling. For questions about student status, military conflicts, or recent prior service, call the Jury Commissioner’s office at 240-777-9090, weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.3Montgomery County, Maryland. Juror Qualification Form
Check In the Night Before
Do not assume you have to report just because a date is printed on your summons. On the evening before your date, after 5:00 p.m., check your reporting status by calling the Juror Information Line at 301-309-9351 or visiting the juror webpage.1Montgomery County, Maryland. About Jury Service The recording will tell you whether your juror group number needs to appear. Skipping this step can send you to Rockville on a morning you were excused, or, worse, keep you home on a morning you were called, which counts as a no-show.
Reporting to the Courthouse
The Montgomery County Circuit Court is at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850.5Montgomery County, Maryland. Circuit Court
Parking
Jurors park free at two locations. The primary lot is the Juror Parking Lot at the corner of East Jefferson Street (Route 28) and Monroe Street, with the entrance off Monroe Street. Keep your summons visible when you pull in. If that lot is full, use the Council Office Building Garage across the street, and ask the Jury Office for a blue parking tag at check-in so you can exit without paying.6Montgomery County, Maryland. Juror Parking
Both locations have handicapped-accessible spaces. Skip the street meters around Rockville Town Center, which cap at two hours; your service will run longer than that.6Montgomery County, Maryland. Juror Parking
Dress and What To Bring
There is no formal dress code, but the Maryland Judiciary expects office-appropriate attire. Slacks or a skirt with a collared shirt or blouse is fine. The court prohibits uniforms (law enforcement, military, medical), graphic T-shirts, beach or athletic wear, shorts, tank tops, hats, and see-through clothing. Employer badges and name tags should stay home too.7Maryland Courts. At the Courthouse Showing up in prohibited clothing can extend your service or trigger other sanctions.
Bring a sweater; the building runs cold. Go easy on fragrances, since you may spend hours in a small room with other jurors. Phones and other electronics are allowed but must be silenced in courtroom areas.
Security and Check-In
Arrive early enough to clear metal detectors and a bag search. Weapons and hazardous materials are prohibited. After security, go to the Jury Assembly Room to check in with court staff. That room is your base for orientation and any waiting before a courtroom assignment.
How Long Service Lasts
Montgomery County uses a one-day-or-one-trial system. If you are not assigned to a trial by day’s end, you are released no later than 4:30 p.m. and your obligation is done for at least 12 months.1Montgomery County, Maryland. About Jury Service If you are seated on a jury, you serve until that trial ends. The average trial runs two to three days; some go longer. A judge can also hold a panel past a single day if jury selection itself is still in progress.
What Happens During Jury Selection
When a trial needs a jury, a group of potential jurors moves from the Assembly Room to a courtroom for voir dire, the questioning that decides whether each person can be fair and impartial in that case. The judge usually asks questions to the whole panel first, then follows up individually with anyone who signals a possible conflict. Attorneys may request additional questions and, depending on the judge, may ask follow-ups directly.
Either side can ask the judge to remove a juror for cause when questioning shows clear bias. Each side also has a limited number of peremptory challenges to remove jurors without giving a reason. Once enough jurors survive both rounds, the panel is seated. If you are not selected, you return to the Assembly Room and may be sent to another courtroom or released.
Pay and Taxes
Montgomery County pays $30 for each day of service.1Montgomery County, Maryland. About Jury Service Under Maryland law, the $30 rate applies for the first five days of a single trial; from the sixth day forward, the rate rises to $50 per day.8New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings 8-426
Jury pay is taxable income and belongs on your federal return. If your employer keeps paying your regular wages during service and requires you to hand over the jury stipend, you can deduct the amount you gave back as an adjustment to income on your Form 1040.9IRS. Skills Warm Up – Jury Duty Pay Given to Employer
Your Job Is Protected
Maryland law makes it illegal for your employer to fire, threaten, coerce, or otherwise penalize you for responding to a summons or taking time off to serve. An employer who violates this protection faces a fine of up to $1,000.10Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings 8-501
The law does not require your employer to pay your regular wages while you serve. Some employers do, as a voluntary benefit. What the statute guarantees is that your job will be there when you return.
Penalties for Skipping
Ignoring a jury summons is a real risk. Under Maryland law, a person who fails to appear and cannot show good cause faces a fine of up to $1,000, up to 60 days in jail, or both.11New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings 8-504 A judge can order you to appear and explain the absence. Courts often send a warning letter before escalating, but the statute permits jail time on a first offense, so counting on that grace is a poor strategy.
If a conflict comes up after you have returned the questionnaire but before your date, call the Jury Commissioner’s office and request a deferral rather than not showing up. A documented conflict handled in advance almost always ends with a new date, not a contempt proceeding.