Rhode Island General Laws 9-9-1.1. Qualifications of jurors
(a) A person is qualified to serve as a juror if the person is:
(1) A citizen of the United States; and
(2) A resident of Rhode Island who either:
(i) Resides in the county where the person is registered to vote; or
(ii) Is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within this state; or
(iii) Possesses a Rhode Island identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of § 3-8-6 and § 3-8-6.1; or
(iv) Is an individual filing a state income tax return; or
(v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation.
(3) At least 18 years of age;
(4) Able to understand and participate in the court proceedings; and
(5) Physically and mentally capable of performing in a reasonable manner the duties of a juror.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 9-9-1.1
- Juror: A person who is on the jury.
- Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8
(b) No person shall be allowed to serve as a juror if he or she has been lawfully adjudicated to be non compos mentis.
(c) No person convicted of a felony shall be allowed to serve as a juror, until completion of such felon’s sentence, served or suspended, and of parole or probation regardless of a nolo contendere plea.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(4) and (5), a person with a disability shall not be ineligible to serve as a juror solely on the basis of his or her disability, and if that person meets the above requirements, with reasonable accommodations if necessary, he or she shall be deemed a qualified juror.
(e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from disqualifying a prospective juror because he or she lacks a faculty or has a disability which will prevent the potential juror from being a competent juror in a particular case.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a party’s right to preemptorially challenge jurors.
History of Section.
P.L. 1990, ch. 328, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 71, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 8; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 8; P.L. 2003, ch. 430, § 1.