(a) Demand. — Any party may elect a trial by jury of any issue triable of right by a jury by filing a demand therefor in writing either as a separate paper or separately titled at the conclusion of a pleading and immediately preceding any required certificate of service.
Rule 2-325.Jury trial
Circuit Court · Last amended January 1, 2006 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2-325 requires a party who wants a jury trial to demand it in writing within 15 days of the last relevant pleading, or lose the right, and lets any party's election bind the whole case.
Full Text of Rule 2-325
(b) Waiver. — The failure of a party to file the demand within 15 days after service of the last pleading filed by any party directed to the issue constitutes a waiver of trial by jury.
(c) Actions from district court. — When an action is transferred from the District Court by reason of a demand for jury trial, a new demand is not required.
(d) Appeals from administrative agencies. — In an appeal from the Workers’ Compensation Commission or other administrative body when there is a right to trial by jury, the failure of any party to file the demand within 15 days after the time for answering the petition of appeal constitutes a waiver of trial by jury.
(e) Effect of election. — When trial by jury has been elected by any party, the action, including all claims whether asserted by way of counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party claim, as to all parties, and as to all issues triable of right by a jury, shall be designated upon the docket as a jury trial.
(f) Withdrawal of election. — An election for trial by jury may be withdrawn only with the consent of all parties not in default.
Amendment History
Amended Nov. 12, 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2004; amended Nov. 8, 2005, effective Jan. 1, 2006.
Committee Note & Source
Source. This Rule is derived as follows: Section (a) is derived from former Rule 343 a and the 1966 version of Fed. R. Civ. P. 38 (b). Section (b) is new and is derived from the 1966 version of Fed. R. Civ. P. 38 (b) and (d). Section (c) is new. Section (d) is derived from former Rule 343 d. Section (e) is derived from former Rule 545. Section (f) is derived from former Rule 343 e and from the 1966 version of Fed. R. Civ. P. 38 (d).
Plain-English Summary
A jury trial in a Maryland circuit court case doesn't happen automatically — a party has to ask for it. The demand has to be in writing, either as its own separate paper or set out under its own heading at the end of a pleading, right before the certificate of service. Timing matters: a party who doesn't file the demand within 15 days after service of the last pleading directed to the triable issue waives the right to a jury. The same 15-day clock and waiver rule apply to an appeal from the Workers' Compensation Commission or another administrative agency with a right to jury trial, running from the time allowed to answer the petition of appeal. One exception: a case transferred from District Court because a jury trial was demanded there doesn't need a fresh demand in circuit court.
Once any party elects a jury trial, the election covers the whole case. Every claim in the action — original claims, counterclaims, cross-claims, third-party claims — and every party and issue triable of right by a jury gets docketed as a jury trial. Pulling out of that election afterward takes the consent of every party who isn't in default.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I demand a jury trial in a Maryland circuit court case?
File a written demand, either as a separate paper or under its own heading at the end of a pleading, placed immediately before the certificate of service.
What is the deadline to demand a jury trial?
Within 15 days after service of the last pleading directed to the issue that's triable by a jury. Missing that deadline waives the right.
If one party demands a jury trial, does it cover the whole case?
Yes. Once elected, the entire action — all claims, all parties, and all issues triable of right by a jury — is designated a jury trial on the docket.
Can a party withdraw a jury trial demand?
Only with the consent of every party who isn't in default.
Do I need to re-demand a jury trial after a case is transferred from District Court?
No. If the case was transferred from District Court because of a jury trial demand, no new demand is required in circuit court.
Source & verification. Rule text, Committee Note, Source note, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Maryland Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Maryland. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
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