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:

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

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     9-9-1.1. Qualifications of jurors.

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

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     (1) A citizen of the United States; and

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     (2) A resident of Rhode Island who either:

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

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

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

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8-6 and 3-8-6.1; or

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

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     (v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation.

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     (3) At least 18 years of age;

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

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

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juror.

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

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

 

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consequence of a felony conviction.

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

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

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contendere plea.

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

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

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

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qualified juror.

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

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

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being a competent juror in a particular case.

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

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challenge jurors.

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     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

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serve on juries.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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