Courts - Jury Service - Disqualification, the official text

WES MOORE, Governor                                       Ch. 875

Chapter 875

                   (Senate Bill 322)

AN ACT concerning

                   Courts – Jury Service – Disqualification

FOR the purpose of altering the circumstances under which an individual who has been
         convicted of a crime is not qualified for jury service; and generally relating to jury
         service.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
         Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings
         Section 8–103
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

         SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

                   Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings

8–103.

         (a) Notwithstanding § 8–102 of this subtitle, an individual qualifies for jury
service for a county only if the individual:

             (1) Is an adult as of the day selected as a prospective juror;

             (2) Is a citizen of the United States; and

             (3) Resides in the county as of the day sworn as a juror.

         (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section and subject to the federal
Americans with Disabilities Act, an individual is not qualified for jury service if the
individual:

             (1) Cannot comprehend spoken English or speak English;

                  (2) Cannot comprehend written English, read English, or write English
proficiently enough to complete a juror qualification form satisfactorily;

                  (3) Has a disability that, as documented by a health care provider’s
certification, prevents the individual from providing satisfactory jury service;

             (4) Has been convicted, in a federal or State court of record, of [a]:
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Ch. 875      2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND

                         (I) A crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding 1 year and
[received a sentence of imprisonment for more than 1 year] IS CURRENTLY SERVING THE
SENTENCE IMPOSED FOR THE CONVICTION, INCLUDING A TERM OF PAROLE OR
PROBATION; or

             (II) A CRIME INVOLVING OR RELATING TO:

             1. PERJURY;

             2. WITNESS INTIMIDATION;

             3. JURY INTIMIDATION; OR

             4. A CRIME UNDER TITLE 8 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW

ARTICLE; OR

                  (5) Has a charge pending, in a federal or State court of record, for a crime
punishable by imprisonment exceeding 1 year.

        [(c) An individual qualifies for jury service notwithstanding a disqualifying
conviction under subsection (b)(4) of this section if the individual is pardoned.]

         SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2026.

Enacted under Article II, § 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution, May 31, 2026.

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