As the COVID-19 numbers continue to improve, please note the following operational changes for the Circuit Court:

1. Jury Selection: Effective June 28, 2021, the jury selection process will return pre-COVID methods. Unvaccinated members of the jury venire will need to be masked and remain socially distanced. Vaccinated members of the jury venire need not wear a mask nor must they remain socially distanced from other vaccinated jurors during the selection process. This should permit the entire jury venire to assemble in one courtroom for the voir dire process rather than being broken up into two panels due to prior social distances restrictions. To the extent possible, the Court will still seek to have the courtrooms remain socially distanced at all other times.
2. Remote Hearings (by Zoom or Polycom): Effective July 1, 2021, in contested matters, remote participation in hearings will only be permitted for good cause shown upon filing of a timely request or on the Court’s own motion in accordance with Title 2, Chapter 800 of the Maryland Rules. Until further notice, uncontested divorces and family law scheduling conferences will continue to be handled remotely by the magistrates. For all other uncontested matters, remote hearings may be permitted upon filing of a timely request or on the Court’s own motion. The decision to permit any remote hearing remains in the discretion of the presiding judge or magistrate.
3. Civil Pretrial Conferences: Effective July 23, 2021, Civil Pretrial Conferences will resume being conducted "in-person" and will no longer be conducted remotely.
4. Criminal Pretrial Conferences: Effective July 19, 2021, criminal pretrial conferences for plea discussions will resume being conducted "in-person".
5. Criminal Status Conferences: Criminal status conferences to address motions and trial scheduling will continue to be conducted via conference call until further notice.

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