Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Judiciary Committee |
HB 1945
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Title: An act relating to allowing prospective jurors who are elderly to choose to be excused from jury service or to remain a prospective juror.
Brief Description: Allowing prospective jurors who are elderly to choose to be excused from jury service or to remain a prospective juror.
Sponsors: Representatives Condotta and McDonald.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/31/18
Staff: Ingrid Lewis (786-7289).
Background:
A jury is a body of persons temporarily selected from the qualified inhabitants of a particular district and invested with the power to present or indict a person for a public offense or try a question of fact. Jurors are randomly selected from a jury source list made up of the list of registered voters, licensed drivers, and identicard holders in each county.
A person is qualified to be a juror if that person is over 18, a United States citizen, a resident of the county of service, and able to communicate in English. If a person has ever been convicted of a felony, the person must have had their civil rights restored.
An otherwise qualified person may not be excused from jury service except upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity, or any reason deemed sufficient by the court for a period of time the court deems necessary.
Summary of Bill:
Any person age 70 or older may choose to be excused from jury service due to age. The court is required to remove the name of a person who chooses to be excused from jury service due to age from the jury source list and master jury list.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.