Jury Duty Pay Law—Do You Get Paid for Jury Duty in Maryland?
Has a Maryland court sent you the summons for jury duty? This important civic responsibility typically requires taking time off work, so you’d be right to wonder—do you get paid for jury duty in Maryland?
In this convenient guide, we’ll answer that question and teach you everything you need to know about Maryland jury duty laws.
if you have questions about how jury duty works—our resources can help you prepare for your service as a juror. We can also help you compose a jury duty leave request letter and send it to your employer problem-free!
What You Need To Know About Jury Duty in Maryland
To be eligible for jury duty in Maryland, you need to meet the following conditions:
- Be a naturalized or born American citizen
- Be at least 18 years old
- Reside in the Maryland county that issued the summons
- Be fluent in both spoken and written English
- Not be incapacitated by a physical or mental illness
- Not be convicted of major crimes, such as felony, murder, or abuse of public office
Note that you typically won’t be called for jury duty more than once a year. If you have already served at a Maryland court for five or more days, you will not be summoned for the next three years.
Keep in mind that jury duty cannot be evaded, and the law can punish you by:
- Holding you in contempt of court
- Issuing a fine of up to $1000
How Much Does Maryland Jury Duty Pay?
You won’t go empty-handed after you’ve finished jury duty at a Maryland court. Being on a jury is required by law, and the court will compensate you for fulfilling your legal duties.
The amount you’ll receive for jury duty depends on the court that summoned you. Maryland state and federal courts offer the following compensation to jurors:
Court | Compensation |
---|---|
State court | $25 per day |
Federal court | $50 per day |
Payment for federal jury duty can increase—if you have served for more than ten days, you’ll be compensated an additional $10 for each following day. Note that jury duty pay is taxable, and the amount you’ll receive is not adjusted for inflation.
Federal and state courts also differ in their policy on giving reimbursement for travel expenses:
Court | Does It Offer Travel Expense Reimbursement? |
---|---|
State court | No |
Federal court | Yes |
While the Maryland state court does not officially reimburse for travel expenses, you may still be eligible for the following:
- Free parking space
- Free lodgings in case of a prolonged trial
Does an Employer Have To Pay You While You’re on Jury Service?
No—in Maryland, an employer is under no obligation to pay you while you’re on jury duty. Maryland state law only requires that an employer provides you with unpaid time off. They are also explicitly forbidden from coercing or threatening to fire you, no matter how long your service takes.
If an employer punishes or demotes you for doing jury duty, they can be indicted for a misdemeanor—you may even sue them for damages!
Rely on DoNotPay To Draw Up Your Leave Request Letter!
Getting selected as a juror is a big deal—after all, your judgment could alter the course of the trial! That’s why DoNotPay is here to make sure you finish your service with no loose ends! Use our Request Jury Duty Leave tool, and we’ll help you compose a professional jury duty leave request letter for your employer. Our product can help you by:
- Notifying your employer about your legal obligations
- Specifying the time you’ll be absent from work
- Providing written proof that you’ll spend that time serving a court
- Citing relevant state laws that will discourage your employer from taking any unlawful action
You can gain access to our product with a few clicks:
- Specify the court you’ll be attending
- State how long your service will take
- Upload your summons
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