House of Representatives

HB 2496

jury selection process

Sponsors: Representatives Flake, Wong, Hatch-Miller et al.

dpa	Committee on Counties & Municipalities
dpa	Caucus and COW
dpa	As Passed the House
x	As Transmitted to the Governor

HB 2496 revises the jury selection process.

History

Currently, during January and July of each year, presiding judges are required to make an order to draw a sufficient number of names of persons for jury service. Within ten days, the jury commissioner is required to draw from the master jury list. Minutes of the drawing must be kept and must contain each name drawn as well as the method used to insure random selection.

Provisions

· Changes the requirement of a presiding judge to make an order to draw a number of names for jury service to twice a year, rather than in January and July.

· Clarifies that the presiding judge is to determine the number of alternate grand jurors to be drawn, and specifies there must be at least four alternate grand jurors.

· Allows the jury commissioner’s agent to draw randomly from the master jury list, conduct the drawing publicly or to use an automated computer process for the random selection of names.

· Eliminates the requirement to keep minutes of the drawings.

· Makes technical and conforming changes.

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44th Legislature Analyst Initials _______

Second Regular Session April 13, 2000

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