What is the role of jury service in Maryland?

• A. Juries decide the facts in trials and render verdicts.
• B. Juries only advise judges on sentencing.
• C. Jury service is required only for civil cases.
• D. Juries review executive actions for constitutionality.

Answer: (A)

Juries in Maryland serve as the triers of fact in trials. They listen to the evidence, assess credibility of witnesses, and determine what actually happened. After weighing the facts, they render a verdict based on the judge’s instructions about the applicable law and the required standard of proof. In criminal cases, that verdict is typically guilty or not guilty; in civil cases, it determines liability and, if applicable, damages. The judge, not the jury, decides the law and how it applies, including guiding the jury on the standards of proof. Sentencing, when it occurs, is usually the judge’s decision after a verdict. Juries don’t advise on sentencing, and they don’t review executive actions for constitutionality—that role belongs to the courts. Jury service is not limited to civil cases; it covers both criminal and civil trials.