Maryland Courts are Reopening as COVID-19 Restrictions Loosen

As of March 15, 2021, Maryland courts are once again open to the public with restrictions in place to enforce social distancing and other CDC guidelines.

Courts are holding live non-jury trials and contested hearings in civil and family matters. Of course, certain matters will still be heard via Zoom.

Maryland

Across the State of Maryland, courts differ in the extent to which Zoom is used.  Montgomery County’s administrative judge has stated that Zoom should continue to be employed to the maximum extent possible for all matters.  This includes civil and family law hearings, including civil trials with under $30,000.00 in damages, family law scheduling and pendente lite alimony (i.e. temporary alimony) and support hearings.  Anne Arundel County on the other hand, by order of its Administrative Judge, compels the in-person attendance of witnesses and attorneys at all contested hearings and trials in its Circuit Court.

Starting April 26, 2021, Maryland courts will resume full operations, including hearing jury trials.  Because civil trials require fewer jurors than criminal trials, many Maryland courtrooms can only accommodate a full, socially distanced, civil jury under current CDC guidelines.  CDC guidelines reduced recommended distancing from 6 feet to 3 feet, and this may cause criminal jury trials to regain priority.

Washington, D.C.

In District of Columbia Superior Court, courts have begun scheduling civil jury trials for Fall 2021.  However, these trials may not go forward.  D.C. courts were closed for a much longer duration during the spring and summer as opposed to Maryland courts and have a much more significant trial backlog.

Stay tuned to our blog for further updates. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Bulman Dunie for assistance.