Bill Text: CA AB1541 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 1541 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Examination of prospective jurors.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-09-26 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 302, Statutes of 2017. [AB1541 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB1541-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1541

Introduced by Assembly Member Kalra

February 17, 2017

An act to amend Section 223 of the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to jurors.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1541, as introduced, Kalra. Examination of prospective jurors.

Existing law requires the court, in a criminal case, to conduct the initial examination of prospective jurors. Upon completion of this initial examination, existing law grants counsel for each party the right to examine any of the prospective jurors, as specified.

This bill would require the court to utilize, as part of voir dire in a criminal case, a written questionnaire that is to be completed by all prospective jurors who are not excused for hardship. The bill would also authorize the court, in the exercise of its discretion, to limit the oral and direct questioning of the initial panel of prospective jurors by counsel to one hour by each party.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 223 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:

223.

In a criminal case, the court shall conduct an initial examination of prospective jurors. As part of voir dire, the court shall utilize a written questionnaire approved by the Judicial Council, which shall be completed by each prospective juror who is not excused for hardship. The court may submit to the prospective jurors additional questions requested by the parties as it deems proper. Upon completion of the court’s initial examination, counsel for each party shall have the right to examine, by oral and direct questioning, any or all of the prospective jurors. The court may, in the exercise of its discretion, limit the oral and direct questioning of the initial panel of prospective jurors by ~~counsel.~~ counsel to one hour by each party. The court may specify the maximum amount of time that counsel for each party may question an individual juror, or may specify an aggregate amount of time for each party, which can then be allocated among the prospective jurors by counsel. Voir dire of any prospective jurors shall, where practicable, occur in the presence of the other jurors in all criminal cases, including death penalty cases. Examination of prospective jurors shall be conducted only in aid of the exercise of challenges for cause.

The trial court’s exercise of its discretion in the manner in which voir dire is conducted, including any limitation on the time which will be allowed for direct questioning of prospective jurors by counsel and any determination that a question is not in aid of the exercise of challenges for cause, ~~shall~~ is not cause ~~any~~ for a conviction to be ~~reversed~~ reversed, unless the exercise of that discretion ~~has resulted~~ results in a miscarriage of justice, as specified in Section 13 of Article VI of the California Constitution.