Back to Michigan

HB4094 • 2026

Courts: juries; prospective jurors with certain criminal records and protected statuses; amend eligibility for service and peremptory challenges. Amends sec. 1307a of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.1307a) & adds secs. 1307b & 1356.

Courts: juries; prospective jurors with certain criminal records and protected statuses; amend eligibility for service and peremptory challenges. Amends sec. 1307a of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.1307a) & adds secs. 1307b & 1356.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Penelope Tsernoglou (District 75), Kara Hope (District 74), Stephanie Young (District 16), Carrie Rheingans (District 47), Amos O'Neal (District 94), Cynthia Neeley (District 70), Jasper Martus (District 69), Sharon MacDonell (District 56), Jimmie Wilson (District 32), Tyrone Carter (District 1), Donavan McKinney (District 11), Helena Scott (District 8), Julie Brixie (District 73), Kelly Breen (District 21), Jason Hoskins (District 18)
Last action
2025-02-19
Official status
bill electronically reproduced 02/19/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information on the specifics of the changes to jury service eligibility criteria or peremptory challenges.

Changes to Jury Service and Peremptory Challenges

This law changes the eligibility criteria for jury service based on criminal records and protected statuses, and modifies rules regarding peremptory challenges.

What This Bill Does

  • It updates the eligibility requirements for serving as a juror in court cases.
  • It adds new sections that address people with specific types of criminal backgrounds who are not eligible to serve on juries.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who might be called for jury duty
  • Courts that handle criminal cases

Terms To Know

Peremptory challenges
A right given to lawyers and judges to remove potential jurors from a trial without needing to explain why.
Protected statuses
Certain characteristics that are legally protected, like race or religion, which cannot be used as reasons for unfair treatment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not provide specific details on how the new rules will be enforced.
  • It is unclear what types of criminal records would disqualify someone from being a juror.
  • There are no examples given about how peremptory challenges might change.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-19 HJ 18 Pg. 126

    introduced by Representative Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou

  2. 2025-02-19 HJ 18 Pg. 126

    read a first time

  3. 2025-02-19 HJ 18 Pg. 126

    referred to Committee on Judiciary

  4. 2025-02-19 HJ 18 Pg. 132

    bill electronically reproduced 02/19/2025

Official Summary Text

Courts: juries; prospective jurors with certain criminal records and protected statuses; amend eligibility for service and peremptory challenges. Amends sec. 1307a of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.1307a) & adds secs. 1307b & 1356.