Bill Text: CA SB1133 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Peremptory challenges.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-06-29 - Referred to Com. on PUB. S. [SB1133 Detail]
Download: California-2019-SB1133-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Senate
May 21, 2020 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1133
| Introduced by Senator Jackson |
February 19, 2020 |
An act to amend and repeal Section 231 of the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to juries.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1133, as amended, Jackson.
Peremptory challenges.
The Trial Jury Selection and Management Act, until January 1, 2021, authorizes a criminal defendant and the state to each exercise 6 peremptory challenges during jury selection, if the offense charged is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less, or 10 peremptory challenges each, if the offense charged is punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, but not by imprisonment for life or by death, except as provided for defendants who are jointly tried. After January 1, 2021, the act authorizes a criminal defendant and the state to each exercise 6 peremptory challenges during jury selection, if the offense charged is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 90 days or less, or 10 peremptory challenges each, if the offense charged is punishable by more than 90 days of imprisonment, but not by imprisonment for life or by death, except as provided for
defendants who are jointly tried.
This bill would repeal the provisions operative beginning on January 1, 2021, and make indefinitely operative the existing provisions that provide 6 peremptory challenges if the offense charged is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less, except as provided for defendants who are jointly tried.
This bill would instead make the above-described change in the number of peremptory challenges operative on January 1, 2024. The bill would also make a technical change to delete an outdated reporting requirement.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 231 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 33 of the Statutes of 2016, is amended to read:231.
(a) In criminal cases, if the offense charged is punishable with death, or with imprisonment in the state prison for life, the defendant is entitled to 20 and the people to 20 peremptory challenges. Except as provided in subdivision (b), in a trial for any other offense, the defendant is entitled to 10 and the state to 10 peremptory challenges. When two or more defendants are jointly tried, their challenges shall be exercised jointly, but each defendant shall also be entitled to five additional challenges which may be exercised separately, and the people shall also be entitled to additional challenges equal to the number of all the additional separate challenges allowed the defendants.(b) If the offense charged is punishable with a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less, the defendant is entitled to six and the state to six peremptory challenges. When two or more defendants are jointly tried, their challenges shall be exercised jointly, but each defendant shall also be entitled to two additional challenges which may be exercised separately, and the state shall also be entitled to additional challenges equal to the number of all the additional separate challenges allowed the defendants.
(c) In civil cases, each party shall be entitled to six peremptory challenges. If there are more than two parties, the court shall, for the purpose of allotting peremptory challenges, divide the parties into two or more sides according to their respective interests in the issues. Each side shall be entitled to eight peremptory
challenges. If there are several parties on a side, the court shall divide the challenges among them as nearly equally as possible. If there are more than two sides, the court shall grant such
additional peremptory challenges to a side as the interests of justice may require, provided that the peremptory challenges of one side shall not exceed the aggregate number of peremptory challenges of all other sides. If any party on a side does not use their full share of peremptory challenges, the unused challenges may be used by the other party or parties on the same side.
(d) Peremptory challenges shall be taken or passed by the sides alternately, commencing with the plaintiff or people, and each party shall be entitled to have the panel full before exercising any peremptory challenge. When each side passes consecutively, the jury shall then be sworn, unless the court, for good cause, shall otherwise order. The number of peremptory challenges remaining with a side shall not be diminished by any passing of a peremptory challenge.
(e) If all the parties on both sides pass consecutively, the jury shall then be sworn, unless the court, for good cause, shall otherwise order. The number of peremptory challenges remaining with a side shall not be diminished by any passing of a peremptory challenge.
(f)The Judicial Council shall conduct a study, and on or before January 1, 2020, shall submit a report to the public safety committees of both houses of the Legislature on the reductions in peremptory challenges resulting from the enactment of the act that added this subdivision. The study shall include, but not be limited to, an examination of the number of peremptory challenges used by the defendant and the state in misdemeanor jury trials, a representative sample of the types of cases that go to jury trial, and the
resulting cost savings to the courts. The report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2024, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 2.
Section 231 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 33 of the Statutes of 2016, is amended to read:231.
(a) In criminal cases, if the offense charged is punishable with death, or with imprisonment in the state prison for life, the defendant is entitled to 20 and the people to 20 peremptory challenges. Except as provided in subdivision (b), in a trial for any other offense, the defendant is entitled to 10 and the state to 10 peremptory challenges. When two or more defendants are jointly tried, their challenges shall be exercised jointly, but each defendant shall also be entitled to five additional challenges which may be exercised separately, and the people shall also be entitled to additional challenges equal to the number of all the additional separate challenges allowed the defendants.(b) If the offense charged is punishable with a maximum term of imprisonment of
90 days or less, the defendant is entitled to six and the state to six peremptory challenges. When two or more defendants are jointly tried, their challenges shall be exercised jointly, but each defendant shall also be entitled to four additional challenges which may be exercised separately, and the state shall also be entitled to additional challenges equal to the number of all the additional separate challenges allowed the defendants.
(c) In civil cases, each party shall be entitled to six peremptory challenges. If there are more than two parties, the court shall, for the purpose of allotting peremptory challenges, divide the parties into two or more sides according to their respective interests in the issues. Each side shall be entitled to eight peremptory challenges. If there are several parties on a side, the court shall divide the challenges among them as nearly equally as possible. If there are more than two sides, the court shall grant
such additional peremptory challenges to a side as the interests of justice may require, provided that the peremptory challenges of one side shall not exceed the aggregate number of peremptory challenges of all other sides. If any party on a side does not use his or her their full share of peremptory challenges, the unused challenges may be used by the other party or parties on the same side.
(d) Peremptory challenges shall be taken or passed by the sides alternately, commencing with the plaintiff or people, and each party shall be entitled to have the panel full before exercising any peremptory challenge. When each side passes consecutively, the jury shall then be sworn, unless the court, for good cause, shall otherwise order. The number of peremptory
challenges remaining with a side shall not be diminished by any passing of a peremptory challenge.
(e) If all the parties on both sides pass consecutively, the jury shall then be sworn, unless the court, for good cause, shall otherwise order. The number of peremptory challenges remaining with a side shall not be diminished by any passing of a peremptory challenge.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2021. 2024.
