Chapter 367 |
2023 -- H 5569 Enacted 06/27/2023 |
A N A C T |
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- JURY LISTS |
Introduced By: Representatives Batista, Knight, Dawson, McEntee, Felix, Craven, Slater, Giraldo, Potter, and Cruz |
Date Introduced: February 15, 2023 |
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 the person’s disability, and if that |
person meets the above requirements, with reasonable accommodations if necessary, he or she the |
person shall be deemed a qualified juror. |
(e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from disqualifying a prospective juror |
because he or she the prospective juror 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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LC000633 |
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