U.S. District Court of Maryland Local Rules (December 1, 2025)
the investigating and arresting officer or agency, and the length of the investigation; from
making an announcement, at the time of seizure of any physical evidence other than a
confession, admission, or statement, which is limited to a description of the evidence seized;
from disclosing the nature, substance, or text of the charge, including a brief description of
the offense charged; from quoting or referring without comment to public court records in
the case; from announcing the scheduling or result of any stage in the judicial process; from
requesting assistance in obtaining evidence; or from announcing without further comment
that the accused denies the charges which have been made.
4. Trial
During a jury trial, including the period of selection of the jury, no lawyer associated
with the prosecution or defense shall give or authorize any extra-judicial statement or
interview, relating to the trial or the parties or issues in the trial, for dissemination by any
means of public communication, except that the lawyer may quote from or refer without
comment to public court records in the case.
5. Scope of Rule
Nothing in this Rule is intended to preclude the formulation or application of more
restrictive rules relating to the release of information about juvenile or other offenders; to
preclude the holding of hearings or the lawful issuance of reports by legislative,
administrative, or investigative bodies; or to preclude any lawyer from replying to any public
charges of misconduct that are made.
6. Penalty
Any violation of this Rule may be treated as a contempt of court and may subject the
violator to the disciplinary action of the Court.
RULE 205. RELEASE OF INFORMATION BY COURT PERSONNEL
No person associated with the Court, including any member of the Clerk’s Office, of
the U.S. Marshals Service, the staff of any judge or magistrate judge, and any court reporter
shall directly or indirectly disclose to any person, without prior authorization by the Court,
any information relating to a pending investigation or case which is not part of the public
court records. By way of illustration and not by way of limitation, no court personnel shall
divulge any information concerning arguments and hearings held in chambers or otherwise
outside the presence of the public.
