Chapter 368
2023 -- S 0812
Enacted 06/27/2023

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

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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LC002551
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