Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateMarylandEnacted
SB 322: Courts - Jury Service - Disqualification
Charles Sydnor
SB 322 status: Enacted — Enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 875 (updated May 31, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
55OUT OF 100
Score:55/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 40/100
Constitutionality75%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
What changes
Updates the criteria for who is disqualified from serving on a jury in Maryland.
Who is affected
Maryland residents eligible for jury service and the state judicial system.
Requirements and enforcement
Not stated in the available source.
Costs and funding
Not stated in the available source.
When it takes effect
Enacted May 31, 2026.
Potential benefits
Potential modernization and standardization of jury selection practices.
Risks and tradeoffs
Lack of transparency regarding specific disqualification changes and potential impacts on jury diversity.
What is still unknown
The specific disqualification categories being modified or added.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Society
Positive outlook
60%
Benefits
- Potentially aligns jury service eligibility with contemporary standards
- May increase the efficiency of jury selection processes
- Could clarify previously ambiguous disqualification criteria
Risks
- Risk of excluding specific demographic groups from participation
- Potential for disparate impact on representativeness
- Lack of public clarity regarding new exclusion criteria
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- Formalizes the legal framework for jury qualification
- Reflects legislative intent to update judicial administration
- Enacts clear rules for court officials to follow
Risks
- Limits public information regarding the substance of the changes
- Centralizes disqualification power within updated statutes
- Reduces discretionary flexibility for court officials
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
The specific nature of the jury service disqualifications is not disclosed, making it difficult to assess civil rights impacts.
Analysis scope
Source material is limited to an abstract, preventing analysis of specific disqualification criteria.
04
Where it stands
Official recordEnacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 875
- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorComplete
- EnactedComplete
05
How it affects your district
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06
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