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2004 SESSION

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HB 1397 Petit juries; service.

Introduced by: Clarke N. Hogan | 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 limiting service periods to one day except where a juror is selected for jury service; and (vi) establishing a "Lengthy Trial Fund," supported by a $20 fee on civil cases, to provide wage supplementation or replacement of up to $300 per day per juror when the period of jury service reaches 10 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."


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