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2003 SESSION

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HB 1892 Service on petit juries.

Introduced by: David B. Albo | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Service on petit juries. Strengthens requirements for service on a petit jury by (i) stating service as an obligation; (ii) limiting the automatic disqualifications from jury service, removing lawyers from the list of persons automatically exempted from jury service and limiting exemptions from jury service by request to people aged 70 years or older or whose spouse is summoned to serve on the same jury panel; (iii) specifying requirements for postponing jury service and providing that failure to appear is a Class 2 misdemeanor; (iv) specifying grounds for authorizing excuses from jury service; (v) establishing the rights of petit jurors, including wage payment requirements for employers with more than five employees, and limiting service periods to one day except where a juror is selected for jury service; and (vi) establishing a "Lengthy Trial Fund," supported by fees on civil cases, to provide wage supplementation or replacement of up to $500 per day per juror when the period of jury service reaches 11 days. The bill repeals § 8.01-341.2, which allowed deferral or limitation of jury service on the grounds that service on specific dates or during a specific term would cause "particular occupational inconvenience." The bill's effective date is October 1, 2003.


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