Courts - Jury Service - Disqualification

HB 435 modifies Maryland's jury service disqualification rules by expanding the circumstances under which individuals with criminal convictions cannot serve. It specifically disqualifies people convicted of crimes involving perjury, witness/jury intimidation, or certain offenses under Title 8 of the Criminal Law Article, as well as those currently serving sentences exceeding one year for such crimes. The bill removes an existing exception allowing pardoned individuals to serve, meaning pardons no longer restore jury eligibility for these offenses. This change directly affects Maryland residents with these specific criminal convictions who would now be barred from jury service, effective October 1, 2025.