O F F I C E O F L E G I S L A T I V E R E S E A R C H
P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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PA 21-170—sHB 6548
Judiciary Committee
Appropriations Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING TH E RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JURY
SELECTION TASK FORCE
SUMMARY: This act adjusts the method for summoning jurors from each town
to reflect how many complied with the summons in the past year. Beginning
October 1, 2022, the act requires the jury administrator to compile the number of
jurors summoned from each town who complied with the summons. And
beginning July 1, 2023, the number of jurors chosen from each town must reflect
the proportional representation of each town’s population within the judicial
district, based on the data collected and a specified formula.
The act establishes temporary procedures for the jury administrator to follow
before the data is collected. From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, whenever there
is an undeliverable jury summons, a replacement summons must be sent to a
prospective juror in the same zip code.
The act expands eligibility for jury service (e.g., to certain permanent
residents and certain convicted felons). It also requires (1) additional questions on
the juror questionnaire and (2) the judicial branch to compile demographic
information on those who participate in the jury process.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2021, for the eligibility expansion provision;
July 1, 2022, for the zip code replacement summons provision; October 1, 2022,
for the juror data compilation and questionnaire provisions; and July 1, 2023, for
the proportional representation provision.
§§ 2-4 — JUROR SUMMONS
The act adjusts the method for summoning jurors from each town to reflect
each town’s juror summons compliance rate in the past year.
Beginning October 1, 2022, the act requires the jury administrator to annually
compile the number of jurors summoned from each town who complied with the
summons and appeared for jury service.
Beginning July 1, 2023, the act requires the number of jurors chosen from
each town to reflect the proportional representation of each town’s population
within the judicial district. This is calculated by dividing each town’s proportional
share of the judicial district’s population by the town’s “yield ratio.” Under the
act, the “yield ratio” is the number of jurors from the town who were summoned
the previous court year and complied and appeared for jury service, divided by the
town’s proportional share of the judicial district’s population multiplied by the
total number of jurors summoned in the judicial district in the previous court year.
A “court year” is the one-year period beginning on September 1 and ending on O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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August 31 the following year.
As under existing law, the jury administrator must use population data from
the most recent decennial census.
The act also establishes temporary procedures for the jury administrator to
follow before the above data is collected. Specifically, from July 1, 2022, to June
30, 2023, for each undeliverable jury summons, he or she must send an additional,
randomly generated summons to a juror with the same zip code as the
undeliverable summons.
§ 1 — EXPANDED JURY POOL
The act expands jury service eligibility by (1) including permanent residents
as allowed under federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(20)) and (2) shortening, from
seven to three years, the timeframe for barring someone with a felony conviction
from serving on a jury.
The act also increases the minimum age, from 70 to 75, for when someone
may claim an exemption from being summoned and makes a conforming change
to the lists the jury administrator must keep. As under existing law, jurors must be
Connecticut residents having permanent residence in the state who are at least age
18.
§ 5 — JURY QUESTIONNAIRE
Under prior law, the jury administrator had to send a prospective juror a
confidential questionnaire with certain questions about his or her personal
information (e.g., age, race, occupation). The act requires the questionnaire to also
have questions on gender and other demographic information the judicial branch
deems appropriate. It requires the administrator to provide, rather than send, the
questionnaire.
Additionally, the act requires the judicial branch to compile a record of the
demographic characteristics of all individuals who (1) are summoned for jury
service; (2) participated in a panel; (3) are subject to a preemptory challenge (i.e.,
objection to a prospective juror without needing a reason); (4) are subject to
challenge for cause (i.e., objection to a prospective juror for a stated reason, such
as bias); and (5) serve on a jury. The record must exclude personally identifiable
information (i.e., identifying information linked or linkable to a specific person)
and be maintained in a way that provides free and open access to the information
on the internet.