Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Judiciary Committee |
HB 2398
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Title: An act relating to jury selection.
Brief Description: Concerning jury selection.
Sponsors: Representatives Kilduff, Graves, Jinkins, Sawyer, Pollet, Valdez and Appleton.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/16/18
Staff: Ingrid Lewis (786-7289).
Background:
Jury Selection.
A jury is a body of persons temporarily selected from the qualified inhabitants of a particular district and invested with the power to present or indict a person for a public offense or try a question of fact. Jurors are randomly selected from a jury source list made up of the list of registered voters, licensed drivers, and identicard holders in each county. A person is qualified to be a juror if that person is over 18, a United States citizen, a resident of the county of service, and able to communicate in English. If a person has ever been convicted of a felony, the person must have had their civil rights restored.
A citizen cannot be excluded from jury service on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status.
Washington Law Against Discrimination.
The Washington Law Against Discrimination establishes that it is a civil right to be free from discrimination based on: race; color; creed; national origin; sex or sexual orientation; honorably discharged veteran or military status; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal. This right applies to: employment; places of public resort, accommodation, or amusement; commerce; and real estate, credit, and insurance transactions.
Summary of Bill:
Jury selection provisions are expanded to prohibit exclusion based on: creed; honorably discharged veteran and military status; sexual orientation; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.