Attorneys

Expanded Voir Dire Pilot Program

Pursuant to Rule 16-310, a Pilot Program for expanded voir dire during jury selection will take place between January 2, 2024, and continue through trials beginning on June 30, 2024. Not all judges in Montgomery County Circuit Court will participate. The participating judges are Judges Burrell, Maloney, Schweitzer, Cummins, Lease, and McAuliffe. Even though your case may not currently be assigned to one of these judges, all judges are double booked each day and your case may be transferred to one of the participating judges. So that you are prepared, please review the “Lawyer’s Packet” which has been provided by Judge Laura S. Ripken who chairs the Program’s Advisory Board.

Update 6/16/25

Please be advised that Chief Justice Fader and the Maryland Supreme Court have decided to extend the Pilot Program for Expanded Voir Dire through December 31, 2025. Pursuant to Maryland Rule 16-310, designated judges participating in the Program are permitted to allow expanded voir dire during the jury selection process.

There will be a change as to which judges will be participating in the Program. The Montgomery County Circuit Court judges currently participating in the Program (Judges Burrell, Cummins, Lease, Maloney, McAuliffe, and Schweitzer) will continue participating for jury trials starting July 2, 2025, or sooner. Since Judge Cummins is rotating into Juvenile and Judges Schweitzer and McAuliffe are rotating into Family; Judges Ayres, Fogelman, and McGuckian will replace them as participating judges in the Program. Beginning with trials starting July 7, 2025, Judges Ayres, Burrell, Fogelman, Lease, Maloney, and McGuckian will be the Montgomery County judges participating in the Program.

Since all judges in the criminal and civil rotations are double and tripled booked each day, all attorneys should prepare as if their trial will be heard by a participating judge. Cases are routinely moved from one judge to another just days before trial as cases settle.

Remember that attorneys are required to complete a survey at the conclusion of their jury trial. The following is a link to the revised expanded voir dire pilot packet for attorneys, which is also posted on the judiciary's website:

Expanded Voir Dire Pilot Program (PDF)

James A. Bonifant
Administrative Judge

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