Exempts judges and justices from jury duty.

A1580

ASSEMBLY, No. 1580

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Exempts judges and justices from jury duty.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
exempting judges
and justices
from jury duty and amending N.J.S.2B:20-10.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� N.J.S.2B:20-10 is
amended to read as follows:

���� 2B:20-10.� Grounds for excuse
from jury service.�

���� An excuse from jury service
shall be granted only if:

���� a.���� The prospective juror
is 75 years of age or older;

���� b.��� The prospective juror
has served as a juror within the last three years in the county to which the
juror is being summoned;�

���� c.���� Jury service will
impose a severe hardship due to circumstances which are not likely to change
within the following year.� Severe hardship includes the following
circumstances:�

���� (1)�� The prospective juror
has a medical inability to serve which is verified by a licensed physician.�

���� (2)�� The prospective juror
will suffer a severe financial hardship which will compromise the juror's
ability to support himself, herself, or dependents.� In determining whether to
excuse the prospective juror, the Assignment Judge shall consider:�

���� (a)�� the sources of the
prospective juror's household income; and

���� (b)�� the availability and
extent of income reimbursement; and

���� (c)�� the expected length of
service.

���� (3)�� The prospective juror
has a personal obligation to care for another, including a sick, aged or infirm
dependent or a minor child, who requires the prospective juror's personal care
and attention, and no alternative care is available without severe financial
hardship on the prospective juror or the person requiring care.�

���� (4)�� The prospective juror
provides highly specialized technical health care services for which
replacement cannot reasonably be obtained.�

���� (5)�� The prospective juror is
a health care worker directly involved in the care of a mentally or physically
handicapped person, and the prospective juror's continued presence is essential
to the regular and personal treatment of that person.�

���� (6)�� The prospective juror is
a member of the full-time instructional staff of a grammar school or high
school, the scheduled jury service is during the school term, and a replacement
cannot reasonably be obtained.� In determining whether to excuse the prospective
juror or grant a deferral of service, the Assignment Judge shall consider:�

���� (a)�� the impact on the school
considering the number and function of teachers called for jury service during
the current academic year; and�

���� (b)�� the special role of
certified special education teachers in providing continuity of instruction to
handicapped students;�

���� d.��� The prospective juror is
a member of a volunteer fire department or fire patrol;
[
or
]
�

���� e.���� The prospective juror
is a volunteer member of a first aid or rescue squad
; or

����
f.���� The prospective
juror is a justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, judge of the Superior
Court, judge of the Tax Court, judge of a municipal court, judge of the Office
of Administrative Law, judge of the Division of Workers' Compensation, or judge
of any federal court
.�

(cf: P.L.1995, c.44, s.1)

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall apply to prospective jurors summoned for jury
service on or after the effective date.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would exempt judges
and justices from jury duty in State courts. Specifically, the bill provides
that an excuse from jury duty would be granted if the prospective juror is a justice
of the New Jersey Supreme Court, judge of the Superior Court, judge of the Tax
Court, judge of a municipal court, judge of the Office of Administrative Law,
judge of the Division of Workers' Compensation, or judge of any federal court.

���� The bill would take effect
immediately and would apply to prospective jurors summoned for jury service on
or after the effective date.