ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 1675

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: FEBRUARY 10, 1997

 

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1675.

      P.L.1995, c.44 codified into Title 2B the law governing the qualification and selection of jurors. Part of this statutory enactment removed the per se disqualification from jury service of persons convicted of an indictable offense. The new law in N.J.S.2B:20-1 automatically disqualifies an individual convicted of an indictable offense only if that person is serving a sentence of imprisonment, or is on probation or parole as a result of that conviction. Persons who have completed their prison sentence or are no longer on probation or parole are now eligible to serve as jurors.

      This bill restores the historical per se disqualification of convicted criminals from jury service. Under the bill, those convicted of crimes would not be eligible for jury service regardless of whether they are still subject to some form of official restraint as a result of that conviction.

      This bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 264.