Fells Point resident: ‘I understand it’s my duty as a citizen’

With jury trials in full swing, here’s what you need to know about jury duty in Baltimore

By Rose Wagner

For the second time in her three years living in Baltimore, Andrea Skeith received a letter this summer that many Baltimoreans refer to as a rite of passage — a jury duty summons.

Skeith, a Fells Point resident, was surprised to be summoned again in late June, but it’s a common phenomenon, with some Baltimore residents being called as often as once a year.

“I understand it’s my duty as a citizen,” Skeith said.

Now that jury trials have resumed in person after months on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic, Baltimore residents like Skeith are once more being called upon to carry out their civic responsibilities in court.

Baltimore Circuit Court faced a backlog of over 2,000 criminal cases as of the end of June. By late last month, the court, which reviews case numbers on a monthly basis, had 1,929 civil cases with trial dates set, the majority of which need juries, according to Terri Charles, a spokesperson for the Maryland judiciary system.

Audrey Carrión, chief administrative judge for the Baltimore Circuit Court, said the court opened last fall for some jury trials, but a rise in COVID-19 cases forced the court to delay trials again.

Now, Carrión said she is elated to have jurors back in the courtroom.

“We need to make sure that we try these cases,” Carrión said. “It’s a sense of a little bit of … euphoria from our judges that, yes, we can finally sit back and do what we are charged to do, which is try cases in person.”

In Baltimore County, Chief Administrative Judge Ruth Ann Jakubowski said that court is also addressing a backlog of cases.

The county has picked an average of two juries a day and, as of Wednesday, held 13 criminal trials and 19 civil jury trials that went to a verdict.

While some people may see a summons as an inconvenience, Carrión said she is grateful for those who show up for jury duty.

“We rely on our Baltimore City citizens to assist us with this backlog,” Carrión said.

For those who have been summoned for jury duty, here’s your guide to navigating the process and the COVID precautions in place.

How did I get selected for jury duty?

Potential jurors are selected randomly from a pool of adult voters, licensed drivers and residents of a given county or city. If you are in Baltimore City and older than 70, jury duty is optional.

Why does it feel like everyone is getting summoned now that trials have resumed?

While it may feel like everyone has been called for jury duty since COVID cases fell and courthouses reopened, Charles said the number of calls for jury duty in Baltimore City is not higher than before the pandemic.

Jakubowski said Baltimore County did summon more people than normal when trials initially resumed out of fear that people wouldn’t appear for jury duty.

“I was really worried at the beginning that people wouldn’t show up,” Jakubowski said. “We have not had an issue with people showing up. I mean, people are actually eager to serve. Maybe people want to get out of the house.”

And if you keep getting a summons on a near-yearly basis, take comfort in knowing that if you end up serving on a jury, it will likely be at least three years before you serve again.

What do I do when I get a summons?

That letter is not a typical piece of mail. It is, in fact, a notice of a legal obligation to appear in court. Do not ignore it. If you do, you could face up to $1,000 in fines and 60 days in jail.

When you get your summons, you should let your employer know the date you are supposed to appear and that, if you are selected to be on a jury, you may not be available for multiple days after the date on your summons. If it’s your first summons, it will come with a survey to determine if you are eligible to serve on a jury.

Your summons should have call-in information with directions for the day before your summons date, including your reporting number. Follow the directions to call in. You’ll learn whether your reporting number has been randomly selected from the jury pool.

If it has, report to the address on your summons, which may be a courthouse or another space such as the War Memorial Building in Baltimore City or, if you live in the county, the American Legion at 125 York Road in Towson, both of which are being used to help potential jurors socially distance.

What if I have a conflict with the date I am supposed to appear in court?

If you are a caregiver or cannot find child care for the date of your summons, Baltimore City courts will allow you to delay your jury duty to a day within 90 days of your originally scheduled date.

To ask to delay your service for any reason, reach out to the jury office at 410-333-3775 in Baltimore City or 410-887-3596 in Baltimore County.

What COVID precautions will be in place?

Masks are required in Baltimore courthouses for anyone who is unvaccinated. Vaccinated people do not have to wear masks. These rules are the same for jurors, court staff, judges, lawyers and all parties involved in trials.

Temperature checks are conducted at the entrance to all courthouses.

Social distancing is required in jury waiting rooms. Courtrooms in Baltimore City and county have plexiglass dividers.

If you have been exposed to COVID, tested positive, or have symptoms, notify the jury office and do not report for jury duty.

Baltimore City is offering vaccines daily at the Cummings Courthouse through Sept. 10.

Can I opt out of jury duty for COVID concerns?

Potential jurors concerned about serving in Baltimore due to COVID-19 should reach out to the jury commissioner’s office.

What about my job?

Your employer is legally required to allow you to perform jury duty, although they are not required to give you paid leave. Baltimore City courts pay $15 a day for anyone summoned or serving on a jury.