Maryland Courthouse Smartwatch & Apple Watch Rules (2026)
Short answer: Yes, all 10 tracked courthouses in Maryland allow smartwatches provided they are silenced inside courtrooms. Updated 2026-11-04
10 of 10 courthouses in Maryland allow smartwatches (Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Fitbit) on silent mode, while 0 classify smartwatches as prohibited recording devices and ban them at the metal detector. Under Maryland Rule 16-208, cell phones are permitted in Maryland Circuit and District Courthouses unless a local administrative judge restricts a high-security facility (such as Baltimore City Mitchell Courthouse annexes), where phone rules and lockers apply.
| County Courthouse | City | Smartwatches & Apple Watch | Phone Lockers | Juror Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County Montgomery County Courthouse (Rockville) “Montgomery County Courthouse (Rockville) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
Rockville | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Prince Georges County Prince Georges County Courthouse (Upper Marlboro) “Prince Georges County Courthouse (Upper Marlboro) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
Upper Marlboro | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Baltimore County Baltimore County Courthouse (Towson) “Baltimore County Courthouse (Towson) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
Towson | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Anne Arundel County Anne Arundel County Courthouse (Annapolis) “Anne Arundel County Courthouse (Annapolis) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
Annapolis | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Baltimore City Baltimore City Courthouse (Baltimore) “Baltimore City Courthouse (Baltimore) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
Baltimore | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Howard County Howard County Courthouse (Ellicott City) “Howard County Courthouse (Ellicott City) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
Ellicott City | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Frederick County Frederick County Courthouse (Frederick) “Frederick County Courthouse (Frederick) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
Frederick | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Harford County Harford County Courthouse (Bel Air) “Harford County Courthouse (Bel Air) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
Bel Air | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Carroll County Carroll County Courthouse (Westminster) “Carroll County Courthouse (Westminster) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
Westminster | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Charles County Charles County Courthouse (La Plata) “Charles County Courthouse (La Plata) Maryland Rule 16-208 Notice: "Visitors and jurors may possess electronic devices inside the courthouse. Devices must remain off or silent inside courtrooms and may never be used to record proceedings."” |
La Plata | Smartwatches allowed (silent) | No lockers | Free Validated |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear my Apple Watch to court in Maryland?
Yes, all 10 tracked courthouses in Maryland allow smartwatches provided they are silenced inside courtrooms.
How is this courthouse policy data verified?
We verify every county against official Court Administrative Orders (.gov), Jury Commissioner instructions, and Sheriff Court Security directives. Last verified 2026-11-04.
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- Phone lockers at entrance in Maryland
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- Jury duty parking & validation in Maryland
- Juror phone & laptop rules in Maryland
- Security line wait times in Maryland
- Courtroom dress code in Maryland