General Information

Excuse from jury service undermines the important purpose of providing jurors who represent a fair cross section of citizens of the State and casts a direct and unfair burden on other citizens selected for service. For those reasons, Section 8-210 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland provides that: Any person summoned for jury service may be excused by the jury judge if the person shows that undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity require the juror's excuse, but only for the period the jury judge deems necessary. It is further provided that "No person or class of person may be disqualified, excused, or exempted from service as a juror except...members of organized militia, persons 70 years old or older and persons who have served on a jury in the recent past."

First of all, please note that the Clerk is not able to grant an excuse. If you wish to be excused, you should send the request, in writing, to the Jury Judge, Hon. J. Frederick Price, Circuit Court for Kent County, at the address given above, giving your reasons. If you wish a confirmation that your request has been granted, please be sure to include a daytime telephone number so that the jury clerk, Ruth Voshell-Russ, can phone you. Remember, however, that even the Judge is unable to excuse anyone except for one of the reasons contained in the law. In that regard, please bear in mind that the privilege of serving on a jury involves inconvenience and sometimes hardship to all who serve - and sometimes to their families and employers.

In an effort to be as accommodating as possible, we attempt to relax the stringency of these rules somewhat in cases where a prospective juror notifies us in advance (that is BEFORE receiving a summons to appear for a trial) that he or she will be on vacation or engaging in another particularly significant activity during a specific, brief period. If you do notify us IN ADVANCE, again meaning before you receive a notice to appear, your request will probably be granted. However, if you notify us after a notice has been sent, we can consider it only under the very strict rules stated above; and it will probably he denied.

JUROR INFORMATION:

The Deputy Clerk of Court serving as Jury Clerk is Ruth Voshell-Russ. If you have any questions or need to discuss your jury duty with her, you may reach her by phone at 410-778-2512.

For your convenience, a Call-In System is available. In each summons you receive, you will be advised to call (410) 778-2512 the evening prior to trial. The message will advise you whether the trial will proceed as scheduled or if it has been canceled. Please make certain that you listen to the entire message.

Although dress may be casual, please dress conservatively. Shorts and cutoff jeans, hats (except for religious purposes) tank and halter tops, undershirts and sandals are considered inappropriate. Cell phones and pagers are prohibited.

Certifications of jury service needed for your employer are available upon request. These letters may be obtained at the Clerk's Office. An employer may not deprive an employee of his employment solely because of job-time lost as a result of Court attendance in response to a jury summons, under the provision of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Courts and Judicial Proceedings, Sec. 8-105.

The Courtroom is equipped with an Assistive Listening Device, for those who are hearing impaired. Headsets may be obtained from the clerk or the bailiff.

Jury service is an important aspect of the rights, privileges and freedoms we all enjoy in the nation. Your service is greatly appreciated by the Court.