2023 -- S 0812
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LC002551
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --
JURY LISTS
Introduced By: Senators Acosta, Quezada, Britto, and Mack
Date Introduced: March 23, 2023
Referred To: Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 9-9-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-9 entitled "Jury Lists" is 1
hereby amended to read as follows: 2
9-9-1.1. Qualifications of jurors. 3
(a) A person is qualified to serve as a juror if the person is: 4
(1) A citizen of the United States; and 5
(2) A resident of Rhode Island who either: 6
(i) Resides in the county where the person is registered to vote; or 7
(ii) Is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within this state; or 8
(iii) Possesses a Rhode Island identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 3-9
8-6 and 3-8-6.1; or 10
(iv) Is an individual filing a state income tax return; or 11
(v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation. 12
(3) At least 18 years of age; 13
(4) Able to understand and participate in the court proceedings; and 14
(5) Physically and mentally capable of performing in a reasonable manner the duties of a 15
juror. 16
(b) No person shall be allowed to serve as a juror if he or she has been lawfully adjudicated 17
to be non compos mentis, or is serving a sentence of confinement at a correctional facility as a 18
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consequence of a felony conviction. 1
(c) No person convicted of a felony shall be allowed to serve as a juror, until completion 2
of such felon’s sentence, served or suspended, and of parole or probation regardless of a nolo 3
contendere plea. 4
(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(4) and (5), a person with a disability shall not be 5
ineligible to serve as a juror solely on the basis of his or her disability, and if that person meets the 6
above requirements, with reasonable accommodations if necessary, he or she shall be deemed a 7
qualified juror. 8
(e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from disqualifying a prospective juror 9
because he or she lacks a faculty or has a disability which will prevent the potential juror from 10
being a competent juror in a particular case. 11
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a party’s right to preemptorially 12
challenge jurors. 13
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 14
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --
JURY LISTS
***
This act would allow persons who are on parole, a suspended sentence or on probation to 1
serve on juries. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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