Clarifies excuse from jury service for members of the military or reserve under certain circumstances; repeals N.J.S.38A:4-6.

A1956

ASSEMBLY, No. 1956

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

SYNOPSIS

���� Clarifies excuse from jury service for members of the
military or reserve under certain circumstances; repeals N.J.S.38A:4-6.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

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

��

An Act
concerning jury duty, amending N.J.S.2B:20-10 and
repealing N.J.S.38A:4-6.

����
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 dependent who is sick,
is elderly, or has an infirmity 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 person with a mental or
physical disability, and the prospective juror's continued presence is
essential to the 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
students with disabilities;

���� 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 an officer or enlisted member of the organized militia, the United States
Armed Forces, or a reserve component thereof, and has submitted to the jury manager
or Assignment Judge a certification that the person is unavailable for jury
service due to a military deployment or duty assignment
.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.131, s.3)

���� 2.��� N.J.S.38A:4-6 is
repealed.

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would clarify an
excuse from jury service for members of the military.

���� Currently, N.J.S.2B:20-10
enumerates the grounds for excuse from jury service. Pursuant to P.L.1995,
c.44, the Legislature eliminated exemptions for jury service and provided that
a prospective juror may be excused from jury service in limited circumstances:
the prospective juror is 75 years of age or older; the prospective juror has
served as a juror within the last three years; jury service with impose a
severe hardship on the prospective juror; the prospective juror is a member of
a volunteer fire department or fire patrol; or the juror is a volunteer member
of a first aid or rescue squad.� Although N.J.S.38A:4-6 provides an excuse from
jury service for members of the military, this section does not set forth a
mechanism whereby the courts can verify a person�s military status.�

���� This bill would repeal
N.J.S.38A:4-6 and amend N.J.S.2B:20-10 to establish procedures for an excuse
from jury service for members of the military.� Under the bill, an officer or
enlisted member of the organized militia, the United States Armed Forces, or a reserve
component may be excused from jury service provided the person has submitted to
the jury manager or Assignment Judge a certification that the person is
unavailable for jury service due to a military deployment or duty assignment.�