SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5953
BYSenators Pullen and Talmadge
Including licensed drivers on jury lists.
Senate Committee on Law & Justice
Senate Hearing Date(s):February 20, 1989; February 23, 1989; January 24, 1990; January 26, 1990
Majority Report: That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5953 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Madsen, Niemi, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Talmadge, Thorsness.
Senate Staff:Anita Neal (786-7418)
January 29, 1990
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, JANUARY 26, 1990
BACKGROUND:
The current jury source list is the list of registered voters provided to the courts by the auditor in each county. According to a recent Judicial Council study report, the percentage of persons registered to vote in Washington State has been decreasing since 1952. There is concern that courts are experiencing an increasing shortage of jurors as the result of dwindling names on the jury source list. Also, the decline of the number of persons registering to vote may well affect how inclusive and representative of the population the jury source list may be.
An expanded jury source list, which merges the names of Washington State drivers with registered voters, might better reflect the demographics of the community and provide a larger list from which to select jurors.
SUMMARY:
"Jury source list" means the compiled list of all registered voters for any county and licensed drivers who meet the requirements for juror qualification.
The listing of licensed drivers is required to specify each licensee's name and residence address, and must be filed annually with the superior court by the director of Licensing or the director's designee.
Jurors must be randomly selected from the merged list without regard for whether the juror is on the list by virtue of his or her status as a registered voter or licensed driver.
The office of the Administrator for the Courts must report to the Legislature by January 1, 1990 on the status of its plan to implement this act.
EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:
"Jury source list" for any county means the merged list of all registered voters, licensed drivers, and identicard holders who meet the state's juror qualification requirements.
The superior court may direct that the Administrator for the Courts merge the list of licensed drivers and identicards with the list of registered voters for that county. The Administrator for the Courts may specify by what means and format the information is to be provided by the Department of Licensing and the superior court.
The Administrator for the Courts must conduct a pilot project involving a computer simulation of the effects of a merged source list, and develop an implementing plan in conjunction with representatives from the courts, judges, clerks, auditors, licensing, bar association, and the Secretary of State.
The sum of $48,000 is appropriated to the Administrator for the Courts for the biennium ending June 30, 1991 to carry out the pilot project and develop an implementing plan.
The effective date is May 1, 1991.
EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:
State agencies and associations representing the Administrator for the Courts; superior, district and municipal court judges; county clerks; the Office of Financial Management; the Secretary of State; county auditors, the Department of Licensing; the bar; and superior court administrators shall prepare an implementation plan that explores various issues involved in merging the list of licensed drivers, registered voters and identicard holders. The plan shall be submitted to the Legislature by January 1, 1991. The sum of $35,000 is appropriated to the Administrator for the Courts to develop the plan.
Appropriation: $35,000
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: available
Senate Committee - Testified: Mary McQueen, Office of the Administrator for the Courts; Gary McIntosh, Washington Secretary of State; Bob Boruchowitz, Washington Defender Association; Desiree Leigh, Washington Minority and Justice Task Force; Sam Reed, Thurston County Auditor; Jim Goche, WACD