Jury Overview
Scott Smith, Jury Commissioner
Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse
100 North Calvert Street, Room 239
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(410) 333-3775
(410) 333-0057 (f)
JURY DIVISION HOURS (Monday through Friday, except State Holidays)
OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
CALL CENTER HOURS 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Received a “Summons and Juror Qualification Form”?
Read the front and back of the SUMMONS AND JUROR QUALIFICATION FORM (“the Form”) in its entirety. The Form tells you if you are being called as a Trial or Grand Juror. You must complete and return the Form within (10) days of receipt to ensure that the Jury Office timely receives your information in advance of your scheduled date. Be certain to complete items 1 through 24 of Part B of the Form (found on the back of your summons) and return it to the Court with any relevant documentation (refer to the DOCUMENTATION CODE LEGEND noted in Part B).
If you prefer, you may complete the Form online. In addition to completing the Form online, the website also allows you to update your juror profile or to submit a request (one time only) that your jury service is postponed to a later date. If any of your answers on the Form disqualify or exempt you from serving as a juror, or if your request for a postponement of service is granted, you will be notified in writing before the scheduled date of your jury service (as shown on the bottom right portion of the summons) and you will not have to attend on that date. It is important that you return the Form within ten (10) days of receipt.
If you receive a summons to report for Jury Duty, you must:
- Notify your employer and any other important persons that you will not be available on the date summoned and, if you are selected to serve on a jury, for several days after, until a verdict is returned.
- Mark your calendar for the evening before your summons date, and keep your summons handy.
- Find your reporting number on your summons.
- After 5:00 p.m. on the evening before your summons date, call 410-333-1555 and listen carefully to the recorded message for your reporting number. The message will identify the reporting number of prospective jurors who must report as scheduled. You may also check for daily reporting instructions here.
- If your reporting number is required to report, you must arrive at 8:00 a.m. Allow enough time to go through a security checkpoint at the Courthouse entrance.
- If your reporting number is not required to report, do not go to the Courthouse; you may be summoned to report on another day.
What is a “Walk-In” Juror?
A “Walk-In” Juror is an individual who may have a scheduling conflict on his or her summons date, but is able to serve up to five (5) business days AFTER their scheduled jury service date. This option is voluntary and replaces the need of rescheduling. Some restrictions may apply.
Want to know about Grand Jury Service? Learn more by following this link here.
Unable to Speak English? No Puede Hablar Ingles?
English
If you are unable to speak, read, write or comprehend English, you will need to meet with the jury commissioner or jury supervisor. You may call 410-333-3775 during normal business hours to schedule an office visit.
Spanish
Si no puede hablar, leer, escribir o comprender inglés, deberá reunirse con el comisionado o el supervisor del jurado. Puede llamar al 410-333-3775 durante el horario comercial normal para programar una visita al consultorio.
JURY SCAM ALERT
Alert! – About Jury Duty Scams
Throughout the country, there are a number of jury duty scams circulating that target citizens. Be advised, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City or the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office will never contact jurors by telephone regarding the payment of fines for failing to appear or failing to complete jury service. Rather, the Court sends a written Failure to Appear “FTA” notice before taking any action. Following that, a Show Cause Order may be issued as a result of your failure to appear for jury duty or some other infraction. To reiterate, there is no warning phone call.
Please protect yourself. Never give personal information when answering an unsolicited phone call and/or email. Instead, write down the phone number the person is calling from. Contact your local police department and request to file a complaint.
