2023 -- S 0812

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LC002551

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --

JURY LISTS

     Introduced By: Senators Acosta, Quezada, Britto, and Mack

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 9-9-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-9 entitled "Jury Lists" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     9-9-1.1. Qualifications of jurors.

     (a) A person is qualified to serve as a juror if the person is:

     (1) A citizen of the United States; and

     (2) A resident of Rhode Island who either:

     (i) Resides in the county where the person is registered to vote; or

     (ii) Is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within this state; or

     (iii) Possesses a Rhode Island identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 3-

8-6 and 3-8-6.1; or

     (iv) Is an individual filing a state income tax return; or

     (v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation.

     (3) At least 18 years of age;

     (4) Able to understand and participate in the court proceedings; and

     (5) Physically and mentally capable of performing in a reasonable manner the duties of a

juror.

     (b) No person shall be allowed to serve as a juror if he or she has been lawfully adjudicated

to be non compos mentis, or is serving a sentence of confinement at a correctional facility as a

consequence of a felony conviction.

     (c) No person convicted of a felony shall be allowed to serve as a juror, until completion

of such felon’s sentence, served or suspended, and of parole or probation regardless of a nolo

contendere plea.

     (d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(4) and (5), a person with a disability shall not be

ineligible to serve as a juror solely on the basis of his or her disability, and if that person meets the

above requirements, with reasonable accommodations if necessary, he or she shall be deemed a

qualified juror.

     (e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from disqualifying a prospective juror

because he or she lacks a faculty or has a disability which will prevent the potential juror from

being a competent juror in a particular case.

     (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a party’s right to preemptorially

challenge jurors.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --

JURY LISTS

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     This act would allow persons who are on parole, a suspended sentence or on probation to

serve on juries.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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