A lack of available jurors in Baltimore City Circuity Court caused delays in five violent criminal jury trials this week, two of which were postponed.
Tamal Johnson was among the latest homicide defendants whose scheduled jury trial was postponed on July 24 in reception court after attempting to select a 12-person jury for the past two days. The 23-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting Taniya Gray on the 1300 block of N. Woodington Road on May 11, 2025.
He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and three weapons violations.
Ivette Lopez, a Maryland Judiciary public affairs supervisor, responded to an email from Baltimore Witness on Friday, stating that 1,100 jurors were summoned July 21 thru 23.
On Friday, the prosecutor requested a postponement for Johnson’s case before Judge Melissa K. Copeland because witnesses were no longer available. Judge Copeland found good cause to postpone Johnson’s five-day trial to Sept. 23 before Judge Alan C. Lazerow, who she described “is pretty sufficient.” Judge Copeland noted that another trial is expected to conclude before Judge Lazerow that same day.
“If another courtroom opens up, I’ll switch this over,” the judge said. “I’ll see if I can move some things around and get you all first.”
During the proceeding Judge Copeland said she will look into any other reasons behind the delays.
A 90-person jury panel was unavailable for Johnson’s case on July 22, holding the case over until the following day. Trial Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr. received 70 jurors on July 23, but dismissed them in the late afternoon when he announced there were not enough qualified jurors to seat a panel.
“His Honor tried, but we just weren’t able to pick this jury,” defense counsel George Harris told Judge Copeland in reception court, regarding Johnson’s trial.
A sheriff’s deputy informed Baltimore Witness that Johnson’s case required at least an additional 20 jurors after eight to 10 jurors had already been excused during the selection process. Approximately 300 jurors reported for service on Thursday, he said.
Davontaye Watkins, a 29-year-old homicide defendant, was also unable to obtain jurors for selection on July 23 and, on Friday, was sent to reception court where he was scheduled to return on Aug. 7. He currently faces two counts of first-degree murder and four weapons charges for the fatal shooting of Dwayne Flintall on the 900 block of N. Carrollton Avenue on Feb. 16, 2024.
The trial of 42-year-old Brandon Lee Vines was also held over to July 23 for the shooting of Mitchell Rhone on the 1900 block of Greenmount Ave. on Nov. 15 2025. His charges include first-degree murder and two weapons violations.
Two additional delayed trials included 45-year-old Melvin Garcercis Tucker’s homicide trial and 34-year-old Richard Holland Jr.’s attempted homicide trial.
On July 21, Tucker’s trial and Holland Jr.’s trial were delayed selecting jury until the next day before Judge Dana M. Middleton and Judge Cynthia H. Jones, respectively. The number of available jurors for Tucker’s case is currently unknown, while Baltimore Witness reports there were only 15 jurors available for selection in Holland’s case on Tuesday — only 245 city residents reporting for jury duty.
Both cases were able to proceed with jury selection and began trial on July 22.
As of Friday, Tucker, Holland and Vines’ trials are ongoing. Tucker is charged with first-degree murder and three weapons violations for accusations of gunning down Moses Earl McKnight over money on the 3600 Block of Leverton Avenue on May 12, 2024. Holland’s attempted murder and weapons charges stem from an incident on the 1800 block Orleans St. on Oct. 27, 2025, when he allegedly shot another man after an altercation at a liquor store.
