Bill Text: NJ A834 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Eliminates conviction of indictable offense as automatic disqualifier for jury service under certain circumstances.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A834 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A834-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Atkins, Stanley, Wimberly, Conaway, Assemblywoman Sumter, Assemblyman Sampson, Assemblywomen Carter, Tucker, Assemblymen Spearman, McClellan and Verrelli
SYNOPSIS
Eliminates conviction of indictable offense as automatic disqualifier for jury service under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act permitting persons with certain prior convictions to qualify for jury service, and amending N.J.S.2B:20-1.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.2B:20-1 is amended to read as follows:
2B:20-1. Qualifications of jurors.
Every person summoned as a juror shall:
a. [shall] be 18 years of age or older;
b. [shall] be able to read and understand the English language;
c. [shall] be a citizen of the United States;
d. [shall] be a resident of the county in which the person is summoned;
e. [shall not have been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of this State, another state, or the United States;] not have been convicted of murder pursuant to N.J.S.2C:11-3 or aggravated sexual assault pursuant to subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-2;
f. [shall] not be serving a sentence of incarceration for any indictable offense under the laws of this State, another state, or the United States; and
g. not have any mental or physical disability which will prevent the person from properly serving as a juror.
(cf: P.L.1997, c.127, s.1)
2. On the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), each juror source list compiled in accordance with N.J.S.2B:20-2 that is being used to select eligible persons for jury service shall be updated, to account for the change in juror qualifications established by that act, no later than the first day of the fourth month next following enactment of that act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would permit persons with past convictions of indictable offenses to serve on juries under certain circumstances. Under current law, these convictions, whether based on violations of New Jersey law, another state's law, or federal law, are automatic disqualifiers for jury service.
Under the bill, a person would still be automatically disqualified for jury service if:
(1) the person was ever convicted of murder or aggravated sexual assault; or
(2) the person is serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense under the laws of this State, another state, or the United States.
