Requests for excusal from jury duty must be indicated on the juror qualification form potential jurors receive in the mail. The form is self-explanatory but frequently asked questions regarding acceptable reasons for excusal are listed below.
Question 3: Do you have any physical or mental infirmity that you believe would impair your capacity to serve as a juror?
You may be excused, if you are under doctor's care for:
- An illness that would prevent you from sitting most of the day. During jury trials, you're given at least one recess during the morning, a recess for lunch, and one or two recesses in the afternoon.
- An illness wherein jury duty would cause an emotional stress. The simple stress of jury duty is not an excuse. However, if serving on jury duty would be so stressful that it would be impossible for you to serve, you may be excused. That will be determined on an individual basis by your physician.
There are many other medical reasons too numerous to mention here. If you have any physical or mental infirmity that you believe would impair your capacity to serve as a juror, you must provide a physician's certificate.
Question 10: Do you have any other reason for excusal?
Work requirements are not normally reasons for being excused. Jury service and excusal therefrom are governed by Title 8 of the Courts And Judicial Proceedings of the Maryland Annotated Code. If you feel you have special circumstances, check block # 10 and thoroughly explain on a sheet of paper. You may still be required to serve.
Child care requirements are not normally reasons for being excused. Jury service and excusal therefrom are governed by Title 8 mentioned in the previous paragraph.
If you have any situation which you feel would preclude you from serving, please indicate it at question # 10 on your juror qualification form now. If you do not indicate a valid reason for not serving, you will be placed in the list of qualified jurors and can only be removed per rules specified in Title 8.
Remember to sign and date the Jury Qualification Form. Be cognizant of the fact that you are signing under penalties of perjury.
