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S. B. No. 2361 *SS08/R625* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Judiciary, Division A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th)
SENATE BILL NO. 2361
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 13-5-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF A JUROR TO THOSE CITIZENS WHO HAVE A 2
CURRENT AND VALID MISSISSIPPI DRIVER'S LICENSE AND WHO HAVE FILED 3
STATE INCOME TAXES; TO AMEND SECTION 13-5-8, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 4
1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 13-5-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
13-5-1. * * * (1) A competent juror is any citizen not 9
under the age of twenty-one (21) years, who * * *: 10
(a) Has a current and valid Mississippi driver's 11
license; 12
(b) Has filed state income taxes for at least one (1) 13
of the two (2) previous tax years; 14
(c) Is able to read and write * * *; 15
(d) Has not been convicted of an infamous crime, or the 16
unlawful sale of intoxicating liquors within a period of five (5) 17
years; and * * * 18
(e) Is not a common gambler or habitual drunkard * * *. 19
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No person who is or has been within twelve (12) months the 20
overseer of a public road or road contractor shall, however, be 21
competent to serve as a grand juror. The lack of any such 22
qualifications on the part of one or more jurors shall not, 23
however, vitiate an indictment or verdict. Moreover, no talesman 24
or tales juror shall be qualified who has served as such talesman 25
or tales juror in the last preceding two (2) years, and no juror 26
shall serve on any jury who has served as such for the last 27
preceding two (2) years. No juror shall serve who has a case of 28
his own pending in that court, provided there are sufficient 29
qualified jurors in the district, and for trial at that term. 30
(2) (a) In order to determine that prospective jurors can 31
read and write, the presiding judge shall, with the assistance of 32
the clerk, distribute to the jury panel a form to be completed 33
personally by each juror prior to being empaneled as follows: 34
"1. Your name ________ last ________ first ________ middle 35
initial. 36
2. Your home address ________ . 37
3. Your occupation ________ . 38
4. Your age ________ . 39
5. Your telephone number ________ . If none, write none. 40
6. If you live outside the county seat, the number of miles 41
you live from the courthouse ________ miles. 42
______________________ 43
Sign your name" 44
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(b) The judge shall personally examine the answers of 45
each juror prior to empaneling the jury and each juror who cannot 46
complete the above form shall be disqualified as a juror and 47
discharged. 48
(c) A list of any jurors disqualified for jury duty by 49
reason of inability to complete the form shall be kept by the 50
circuit clerk and their names shall not be placed in the jury box 51
thereafter until such person can qualify as above provided. 52
SECTION 2. Section 13-5-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 53
amended as follows: 54
13-5-8. (1) In April of each year, the jury commission for 55
each county shall compile and maintain a master list consisting 56
of * * * citizens within the county who (a) possess a valid 57
Mississippi driver's license, and (b) have filed state income 58
taxes for at least one (1) of the two (2) previous tax years. 59
(2) The circuit clerk of the county and the registrar of 60
voters shall have the duty to certify to the commission during the 61
month of January of each year under the seal of his office the 62
voter registration list for the county; the list shall exclude any 63
person who has been permanently excused from jury service pursuant 64
to Section 13-5-23(4). Any person who has been excluded from the 65
master list for jury service may be reinstated to the master list 66
after one (1) year by requesting that the circuit clerk reinstate 67
him to the master list. 68
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ST: Jurors; expand pool to citizens with
driver's license who have filed state income
taxes.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 69
and after July 1, 2026. 70