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 Original 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))