Jury procedure amendments.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on updating rules for excusing jurors who are already exempt from serving, so this claim was removed.

Changes to Jury Procedures

This law changes how people can be excused from jury duty and updates rules for juror exemptions.

What This Bill Does

• Clarifies that a person has served on a jury when they are selected as a juror and take the oath, even if they do not complete their service.
• Changes the process to request an exemption from jury duty. Instead of filing an affidavit, people must now submit a declaration under penalty of perjury stating why they should be exempted.

Who It Names or Affects

• People called for jury duty
• Courts that handle jury summonses and exemptions

Terms To Know

Exemption

A reason why someone does not have to serve on a jury.

Juror

Someone who is selected or has been chosen to be part of a jury.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only changes how exemptions are requested and does not list specific reasons for exemption.
• It does not specify what happens if someone fails to submit the required declaration under penalty of perjury.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 20LSO-0460
Bill No.:

HB0065

Effective:

7/1/2020 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

20LSO-0460

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0037

Chapter No.:

64

Prime Sponsor:

Kirkbride

Catch Title:

Jury procedure amendments.

Subject:

Amending provisions for juror excusal, exemption and discharge.

Summary/Major Elements:

In 2019, the Legislature passed a bill that amended various jury procedures in anticipation of the use of electronic-juror systems.

The act clarifies that, for purposes of juror excusal, a person has "served on a jury" when the person has been selected as a juror and sworn in.

The act clarifies the process for a person seeking an exemption from jury service; instead of
a sworn affidavit
, the person must submit a declaration under penalty of perjury that states his grounds for an exemption.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

20LSO-0460

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0065

ENROLLED ACT NO. 37,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2020 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to civil procedure; amending provisions related to causes for juror excusal; amending procedures for juror exemption and discharge; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 1
‑
11
‑
104(b)(i) and 1
‑
11
‑
105 are amended to read:

1
‑
11
‑
104.

Causes for excusal.

(b)

For the purposes of this section:

(i)

A person has served on a jury during a jury term when he is summoned to serve and he has
complied with the summons
been selected as a juror in any court within the judicial district and has taken the oath required under W.S. 1
‑
11
‑
201
;

1
‑
11
‑
105.

Exemption affidavit required; failure to file.

If a person exempt from jury duty is summoned as a juror, he may
file his affidavit with the clerk of the court for which he is summoned
submit a declaration under penalty of perjury
stating his
office, occupation or employment
purported grounds for exemption
. If the court determines that the
affidavit
declaration
sufficiently demonstrates that the person is not required to serve as a juror pursuant to W.S. 1
‑
11
‑
103(a), the court shall discharge the person from serving as a trial juror for the jury term in which he was summoned. A person who is discharged under this section is not required to appear in court. Failure of
any person who is exempt to
file the affidavit
submit a declaration under penalty of perjury
is a waiver of his exemption, and he is required to appear upon the day for which the jury is summoned and serve as a juror the same as if he were not entitled to exemption
unless otherwise excused by the court
.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1