HLS 21RS-469 ENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 84
BY REPRESENTATIVE MARCELLE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
JURY DUTY: Provides relative to qualification of jurors
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Article 401(A)(introductory paragraph)
3 and (5), relative to qualifications of jurors; to provide relative to the authority of
4 certain persons under indictment or order of imprisonment or on probation or parole
5 to serve on a jury; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. Code of Criminal Procedure Article 401(A)(introductory paragraph) and
8(5) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 Art. 401. General qualifications of jurors
10 A. In order to qualify to serve as a juror, a person must shall meet all of the
11 following requirements:
12 * * *
13 (5) Not be under indictment, incarcerated under an order of imprisonment,
14 or on probation or parole for a felony nor have been convicted of a felony for which
15 he has not been pardoned by the governor offense within the five-year period
16 immediately preceding the person's jury service.
17 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-469 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 84
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 84 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Marcelle
Abstract: Authorizes certain persons no longer under an order of imprisonment or on
probation or parole for a felony to serve on a jury in civil and criminal cases.
Present law provides for the following qualifications that a person shall meet in order to
serve as a juror in civil and criminal cases:
(1)Be a citizen of the United States and of this state who has resided within the parish
in which he is to serve as a juror for at least one year immediately preceding his jury
service.
(2)Be at least 18 years of age.
(3)Be able to read, write, and speak the English language and be possessed of sufficient
knowledge of the English language.
(4)Not be under interdiction or incapable of serving as a juror because of a mental or
physical infirmity, provided that no person shall be deemed incompetent solely
because of the loss of hearing in any degree.
(5)Not be under indictment for a felony nor have been convicted of a felony for which
he has not been pardoned by the governor.
Proposed law amends present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 401(A)(5)) to provide that in order to qualify
to serve as a juror, a person shall not be under an indictment, incarcerated under an order of
imprisonment, or on probation or parole for a felony offense within the five-year period
immediately preceding the person's jury service.
Proposed law retains all other present law qualifications for jurors.
(Amends C.Cr.P. Art. 401(A)(intro. para.) and (5))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.