Bill Text: MS HB1022 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Jurors; revise qualifications to be eligible to serve as.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [HB1022 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HB1022-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representative Bennett
House Bill 1022
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 13-5-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE EVERY CITIZEN WHO IS A QUALIFIED ELECTOR AS PROVIDED BY LAW TO SERVE AS A COMPETENT JUROR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 13-5-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
13-5-1. Every citizen * * *
who is either a qualified elector as
described by Section 23-15-11, or a resident freeholder of the county for
more than one (1) year, is able to read and write, and has not been convicted
of an infamous crime, or the unlawful sale of intoxicating liquors within a
period of five (5) years and who is not a common gambler or habitual drunkard,
is a competent juror. No person who is or has been within twelve (12) months
the overseer of a public road or road contractor shall, however, be competent
to serve as a grand juror. The lack of any such qualifications on the part of
one or more jurors shall not, however, vitiate an indictment or verdict.
Moreover, no talesman or tales juror shall be qualified who has served as such
talesman or tales juror in the last preceding two (2) years, and no juror shall
serve on any jury who has served as such for the last preceding two (2) years.
No juror shall serve who has a case of his own pending in that court, provided
there are sufficient qualified jurors in the district, and for trial at that
term.
In order to determine that prospective jurors can read and write, the presiding judge shall, with the assistance of the clerk, distribute to the jury panel a form to be completed personally by each juror prior to being empaneled as follows:
"1. Your name ________ last ________ first ________ middle initial.
2. Your home address ________.
3. Your occupation ________.
4. Your age ________.
5. Your telephone number ________. If none, write none.
6. If you live outside the county seat, the number of miles you live from the courthouse ________ miles.
______________________
Sign your name"
The judge shall personally examine the answers of each juror prior to empaneling the jury and each juror who cannot complete the above form shall be disqualified as a juror and discharged.
A list of any jurors disqualified for jury duty by reason of inability to complete the form shall be kept by the circuit clerk and their names shall not be placed in the jury box thereafter until such person can qualify as above provided.
SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.
