EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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SENATE BILL 34
D1 4lr1422
SB 97/23 – JPR (PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Carter
Requested: November 1, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Courts – Jury Service – Disqualification 2
FOR the purpose of altering the circumstances under which an individual who has been 3
convicted of a crime is not qualified for jury service; and generally relating to jury 4
service. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 7
Section 8–103 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 13
8–103. 14
(a) Notwithstanding § 8–102 of this subtitle, an individual qualifies for jury 15
service for a county only if the individual: 16
(1) Is an adult as of the day selected as a prospective juror; 17
(2) Is a citizen of the United States; and 18
(3) Resides in the county as of the day sworn as a juror. 19
2 SENATE BILL 34
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section and subject to the federal 1
Americans with Disabilities Act, an individual is not qualified for jury service if the 2
individual: 3
(1) Cannot comprehend spoken English or speak English; 4
(2) Cannot comprehend written English, read English, or write English 5
proficiently enough to complete a juror qualification form satisfactorily; 6
(3) Has a disability that, as documented by a health care provider’s 7
certification, prevents the individual from providing satisfactory jury service; 8
(4) Has been convicted, in a federal or State court of record, of [a]: 9
(I) A crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding 1 year and 10
[received a sentence of imprisonment for more than 1 year] IS CURRENTLY SERVING THE 11
SENTENCE IMPOSED FOR THE CONVICTION , INCLUDING A TERM OF PAROLE OR 12
PROBATION; or 13
(II) A CRIME INVOLVING OR R ELATING TO: 14
1. PERJURY; 15
2. WITNESS INTIMIDATION ; 16
3. JURY INTIMIDATION ; OR 17
4. A CRIME UNDER TITLE 8 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW 18
ARTICLE; OR 19
(5) Has a charge pending, in a federal or State court of record, for a crime 20
punishable by imprisonment exceeding 1 year. 21
[(c) An individual qualifies for jury service notwithstanding a disqualifying 22
conviction under subsection (b)(4) of this section if the individual is pardoned.] 23
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 24
October 1, 2024. 25