Selection Fields

Legislative Intent

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Definitions

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Source of jury master lists are drawn (e.g., voter registration, state income tax, etc. )?

Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 51-220a. Use of electronic processing in selection and summoning of jurors.

Electronic data processing and similar equipment may be used in the selection, drawing and summoning of jurors under this chapter. At his election, the Jury Administrator may enter into a computerized data processing file the names of persons appearing on the list compiled under subsection (b) of section 51-222a, in order to perform any of the duties prescribed in this chapter.

History

Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 51-222a. Preparation of master or final list.

(a) Annually, upon the request of the Jury Administrator, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall supply the Jury Administrator with the latest updated file of licensed motor vehicle operators for the state and with the latest updated file of holders of identity cards issued under section 1-1h. Upon the request of the Jury Administrator, the Commissioner of Revenue Services shall supply the Jury Administrator with the most recent updated list of residents of this state who have a permanent place of abode in this state and who filed a return on personal income under chapter 229 in the last tax year, and the Labor Commissioner shall supply the Jury Administrator with the most recent updated list of residents of this state who are recipients of unemployment compensation under chapter 567. In addition, upon the request of the Jury Administrator, the registrars of voters of each town shall supply a list of all electors from their town, except that in lieu of such list from the registrars of voters, the Jury Administrator may obtain the list of all electors from a central repository, or if such list is not available, may contract for the creation and purchase of such list. The registrars of voters shall provide lists of electors to the contractor at the request of the Jury Administrator. Annually, upon the request of the Jury Administrator, the Commissioner of Public Health shall supply the Jury Administrator with the most recent updated list of deceased persons. The lists supplied to the Jury Administrator under this subsection shall be in the format prescribed by the Jury Administrator and shall include, at a minimum, the name, address and, if available, date of birth of each person on such list or the reason for the unavailability. The lists supplied by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, the Commissioner of Revenue Services, the Commissioner of Public Health and the Labor Commissioner to the Jury Administrator under this subsection shall also include the Social Security number of each person on such list or the reason for the unavailability. The lists of electors supplied to the Jury Administrator by registrars of voters or the Secretary of the State under this subsection shall not include Social Security numbers of persons on such lists.

(b) The Jury Administrator shall compile a list of names of electors, residents of this state appearing on the most recent updated list of operators of motor vehicles licensed pursuant to chapter 246, residents who filed a return on personal income under chapter 229 in the last tax year and recipients of unemployment compensation under chapter 567.

(c) Annually the Jury Administrator shall combine the names from the lists compiled under subsection (b) of this section. The Jury Administrator shall delete, where possible, duplicate names in order to insure that names occurring on any list are given only a single chance to be selected and shall delete, where possible, the names of persons who may be excluded from the list compiled pursuant to subsection (c) of section 51-217 and the names appearing on the list of deceased persons supplied by the Commissioner of Public Health.

(d) The Jury Administrator shall select, at random from the list compiled as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the number of names required by section 51-220. These names for each town in the state and the names of persons whose jury service was continued from the previous jury year shall constitute such town’s final list of prospective jurors for service starting the next succeeding September. The final list for each town shall contain the name and street address of each prospective juror. In the event that a new master file is unavailable or defective, the Chief Court Administrator may authorize the Jury Administrator to continue to summon jurors from the list compiled pursuant to subsection (c) of this section during the previous year.

(e) If the Jury Administrator determines at any time that there is a need to supplement the number of names on the final list of jurors for each town within a judicial district, the Jury Administrator, so far as he or she is able, shall select in proportion to the population of each town, at random, from the names not selected pursuant to subsection (d) of this section such number of prospective jurors as the Jury Administrator determines is necessary.

Sec. 51-224. Incomplete list. Preparation of subsequent list.

If a registrar of voters of a town, after a request from the Jury Administrator pursuant to section 51-222a, fails to provide the list to the Jury Administrator or to the Jury Administrator’s representative, the Jury Administrator shall notify the state’s attorney for the judicial district of the town from which such list has not been received and shall, at the same time, notify the registrar of voters of such town that such list has not been received. In addition, if the Jury Administrator has not received a list from a registrar of voters of a town, and determines there is a need for additional jurors, the Jury Administrator shall select from the list compiled under subsection (b) of section 51-222a, the names of as many persons as are necessary to make up the number of jurors provided for that town or city, who are in his judgment qualified and eligible to serve.

History

Drawing of juror names from list

Sec. 51-220a. Use of electronic processing in selection and summoning of jurors.

Electronic data processing and similar equipment may be used in the selection, drawing and summoning of jurors under this chapter. At his election, the Jury Administrator may enter into a computerized data processing file the names of persons appearing on the list compiled under subsection (b) of section 51-222a, in order to perform any of the duties prescribed in this chapter.

Sec. 51-222a. Preparation of master or final list.

(a) Annually, upon the request of the Jury Administrator, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall supply the Jury Administrator with the latest updated file of licensed motor vehicle operators for the state and with the latest updated file of holders of identity cards issued under section 1-1h. Upon the request of the Jury Administrator, the Commissioner of Revenue Services shall supply the Jury Administrator with the most recent updated list of residents of this state who have a permanent place of abode in this state and who filed a return on personal income under chapter 229 in the last tax year, and the Labor Commissioner shall supply the Jury Administrator with the most recent updated list of residents of this state who are recipients of unemployment compensation under chapter 567. In addition, upon the request of the Jury Administrator, the registrars of voters of each town shall supply a list of all electors from their town, except that in lieu of such list from the registrars of voters, the Jury Administrator may obtain the list of all electors from a central repository, or if such list is not available, may contract for the creation and purchase of such list. The registrars of voters shall provide lists of electors to the contractor at the request of the Jury Administrator. Annually, upon the request of the Jury Administrator, the Commissioner of Public Health shall supply the Jury Administrator with the most recent updated list of deceased persons. The lists supplied to the Jury Administrator under this subsection shall be in the format prescribed by the Jury Administrator and shall include, at a minimum, the name, address and, if available, date of birth of each person on such list or the reason for the unavailability. The lists supplied by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, the Commissioner of Revenue Services, the Commissioner of Public Health and the Labor Commissioner to the Jury Administrator under this subsection shall also include the Social Security number of each person on such list or the reason for the unavailability. The lists of electors supplied to the Jury Administrator by registrars of voters or the Secretary of the State under this subsection shall not include Social Security numbers of persons on such lists.

(b) The Jury Administrator shall compile a list of names of electors, residents of this state appearing on the most recent updated list of operators of motor vehicles licensed pursuant to chapter 246, residents who filed a return on personal income under chapter 229 in the last tax year and recipients of unemployment compensation under chapter 567.

(c) Annually the Jury Administrator shall combine the names from the lists compiled under subsection (b) of this section. The Jury Administrator shall delete, where possible, duplicate names in order to insure that names occurring on any list are given only a single chance to be selected and shall delete, where possible, the names of persons who may be excluded from the list compiled pursuant to subsection (c) of section 51-217 and the names appearing on the list of deceased persons supplied by the Commissioner of Public Health.

(d) The Jury Administrator shall select, at random from the list compiled as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the number of names required by section 51-220. These names for each town in the state and the names of persons whose jury service was continued from the previous jury year shall constitute such town’s final list of prospective jurors for service starting the next succeeding September. The final list for each town shall contain the name and street address of each prospective juror. In the event that a new master file is unavailable or defective, the Chief Court Administrator may authorize the Jury Administrator to continue to summon jurors from the list compiled pursuant to subsection (c) of this section during the previous year.

(e) If the Jury Administrator determines at any time that there is a need to supplement the number of names on the final list of jurors for each town within a judicial district, the Jury Administrator, so far as he or she is able, shall select in proportion to the population of each town, at random, from the names not selected pursuant to subsection (d) of this section such number of prospective jurors as the Jury Administrator determines is necessary.

Procedure for Summoning Jurors

Sec. 51-232. Summoning of jurors. Juror questionnaire. Reduction of panel. Courthouse.

(a) The Jury Administrator shall send to each juror drawn, by first class mail, a notice stating the place where and the time when he is to appear and such notice shall constitute a sufficient summons unless a judge of said court directs that jurors be summoned in some other manner.

(b) Such summons or notice shall also state the fact that a juror has a right to one postponement of the juror’s term of juror service for not more than ten months and may contain any other information and instructions deemed appropriate by the Jury Administrator. If the date to which the juror has postponed jury service is improper, unavailable or inconvenient for the court, the Jury Administrator shall assign a date of service which, if possible, is reasonably close to the postponement date selected by the juror. Such notice or summons shall be made available to any party or the attorney for such party in an action to be tried to a jury. The Jury Administrator may grant additional postponements within or beyond said ten months but not beyond one year from the original summons date.

(c) The Jury Administrator shall send to a prospective juror a juror confirmation form and a confidential juror questionnaire. Such questionnaire shall include questions eliciting the juror’s name, age, race and ethnicity, occupation, education and information usually raised in voir dire examination. The questionnaire shall inform the prospective juror that information concerning race and ethnicity is required solely to enforce nondiscrimination in jury selection, that the furnishing of such information is not a prerequisite to being qualified for jury service and that such information need not be furnished if the prospective juror finds it objectionable to do so. Such juror confirmation form and confidential juror questionnaire shall be signed by the prospective juror under penalty of false statement. Copies of the completed questionnaires shall be provided to the judge and counsel for use during voir dire or in preparation therefor. Counsel shall be required to return such copies to the clerk of the court upon completion of the voir dire. Except for disclosure made during voir dire or unless the court orders otherwise, information inserted by jurors shall be held in confidence by the court, the parties, counsel and their authorized agents. Such completed questionnaires shall not constitute a public record.

(d) The number of jurors in a panel may be reduced when, in the opinion of the court, such number of jurors is in excess of reasonable requirements. Such reduction by the clerk shall be accomplished by lot to the extent authorized by the court and the jurors released shall be subject to recall for jury duty only if and when required.

(e) In each judicial district, the Chief Court Administrator shall designate one or more courthouses to be the courthouse to which jurors shall originally be summoned. The court may assign any jurors of a jury pool to attend any courtroom within the judicial district.

Prohibition of Discrimination Against Jurors

(c) The Jury Administrator shall send to a prospective juror a juror confirmation form and a confidential juror questionnaire. Such questionnaire shall include questions eliciting the juror’s name, age, race and ethnicity, occupation, education and information usually raised in voir dire examination. The questionnaire shall inform the prospective juror that information concerning race and ethnicity is required solely to enforce nondiscrimination in jury selection, that the furnishing of such information is not a prerequisite to being qualified for jury service and that such information need not be furnished if the prospective juror finds it objectionable to do so. Such juror confirmation form and confidential juror questionnaire shall be signed by the prospective juror under penalty of false statement. Copies of the completed questionnaires shall be provided to the judge and counsel for use during voir dire or in preparation therefor. Counsel shall be required to return such copies to the clerk of the court upon completion of the voir dire. Except for disclosure made during voir dire or unless the court orders otherwise, information inserted by jurors shall be held in confidence by the court, the parties, counsel and their authorized agents. Such completed questionnaires shall not constitute a public record. (Conn. Gen. Stat. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-232

Qualifications

Sec. 51-217. Qualification of jurors.

(a) All jurors shall be electors, or citizens of the United States who are residents of this state having a permanent place of abode in this state and appear on the list compiled by the Jury Administrator under subsection (b) of section 51-222a, who have reached the age of eighteen. A person shall be disqualified to serve as a juror if such person: (1) Is found by a judge of the Superior Court to exhibit any quality which will impair the capacity of such person to serve as a juror, except that no person shall be disqualified because the person is deaf or hard of hearing; (2) has been convicted of a felony within the past seven years or is a defendant in a pending felony case or is in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction; (3) is not able to speak and understand the English language; (4) is the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney General; (5) is a judge of the Probate Court, Superior Court, Appellate Court or Supreme Court, is a family support magistrate or is a federal court judge; (6) is a member of the General Assembly, provided such disqualification shall apply only while the General Assembly is in session; (7) is a registrar of voters or deputy registrar of voters of a municipality, provided such disqualification shall apply only during the period from twenty-one days before the date of a federal, state or municipal election, primary or referendum to twenty-one days after the date of such election, primary or referendum, inclusive; (8) is seventy years of age or older and chooses not to perform juror service; (9) is incapable, by reason of a physical or mental disability, of rendering satisfactory juror service; or (10) for the jury year commencing on September 1, 2017, and each jury year thereafter, has served in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut as (A) a federal juror on a matter that has been tried to a jury during the last three preceding jury years, or (B) a federal grand juror during the last three preceding jury years. Any person claiming a disqualification under subdivision (9) of this subsection shall submit to the Jury Administrator a letter from a licensed health care provider stating the health care provider’s opinion that such disability prevents the person from rendering satisfactory juror service. In reaching such opinion, the health care provider shall apply the following guideline: A person shall be capable of rendering satisfactory juror service if such person is able to perform a sedentary job requiring close attention for six hours per day, with short work breaks in the morning and afternoon sessions, for at least three consecutive business days. Any person claiming a disqualification under subdivision (10) of this subsection shall supply proof of federal jury service satisfactory to the Jury Administrator.

(b) The Jury Administrator may determine, in such manner and at such times as the Jury Administrator deems feasible, whether any person is qualified to serve as juror under this section and whether any person may be excused for extreme hardship.

(c) The Jury Administrator shall have the authority to establish and maintain a list of persons to be excluded from the summoning process, which shall consist of (1) persons who are disqualified from serving on jury duty on a permanent basis due to a disability for which a licensed physician or an advanced practice registered nurse has submitted a letter stating the physician’s or advanced practice registered nurse’s opinion that such disability permanently prevents the person from rendering satisfactory jury service, (2) persons seventy years of age or older who have requested not to be summoned, (3) elected officials enumerated in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section and judges enumerated in subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of this section during their term of office, and (4) persons excused from jury service pursuant to section 51-217a who have not requested to be summoned for jury service pursuant to said section. Persons requesting to be excluded pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection must provide the Jury Administrator with their names, addresses, dates of birth and federal Social Security numbers for use in matching. The request to be excluded may be rescinded at any time with written notice to the Jury Administrator.

Disqualifications

A person shall be disqualified to serve as a juror if such person: (1) Is found by a judge of the Superior Court to exhibit any quality which will impair the capacity of such person to serve as a juror, except that no person shall be disqualified because the person is deaf or hard of hearing; (2) has been convicted of a felony within the past seven years or is a defendant in a pending felony case or is in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction; (3) is not able to speak and understand the English language; (4) is the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney General; (5) is a judge of the Probate Court, Superior Court, Appellate Court or Supreme Court, is a family support magistrate or is a federal court judge; (6) is a member of the General Assembly, provided such disqualification shall apply only while the General Assembly is in session; (7) is a registrar of voters or deputy registrar of voters of a municipality, provided such disqualification shall apply only during the period from twenty-one days before the date of a federal, state or municipal election, primary or referendum to twenty-one days after the date of such election, primary or referendum, inclusive; (8) is seventy years of age or older and chooses not to perform juror service; (9) is incapable, by reason of a physical or mental disability, of rendering satisfactory juror service; or (10) for the jury year commencing on September 1, 2017, and each jury year thereafter, has served in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut as (A) a federal juror on a matter that has been tried to a jury during the last three preceding jury years, or (B) a federal grand juror during the last three preceding jury years. Any person claiming a disqualification under subdivision (9) of this subsection shall submit to the Jury Administrator a letter from a licensed health care provider stating the health care provider’s opinion that such disability prevents the person from rendering satisfactory juror service. In reaching such opinion, the health care provider shall apply the following guideline: A person shall be capable of rendering satisfactory juror service if such person is able to perform a sedentary job requiring close attention for six hours per day, with short work breaks in the morning and afternoon sessions, for at least three consecutive business days. Any person claiming a disqualification under subdivision (10) of this subsection shall supply proof of federal jury service satisfactory to the Jury Administrator." (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-217)

Excusal or Exemptions

Sec. 51-217a. Jurors excused from service. Option to be considered for service.

(a) A person shall be excused from jury service during the jury year commencing September 1, 1999, and each jury year thereafter, if during the next three preceding jury years such person appeared in a court for jury service and was not excused from such jury service, except that such person may request to be summoned for jury service during such three-jury-year period in the same manner as persons are summoned who are not excused from jury service. Such request may be made at any time with written notice to the Jury Administrator.

(b) The court shall have authority to excuse a juror from juror service, upon a finding of extreme hardship

Sec. 51-237a. Permission for juror to be absent.

Any juror summoned to appear may, in the discretion of the judge of the court to which he is summoned, be permitted to absent himself from the court until a jury on which he may be serving is being impaneled if the judge is satisfied that the juror will return pursuant to the direction of the court. The juror shall not be compensated as provided in section 51-247 for any day in which he is not directed to return.

History

Limited Frequency of Jury Service

Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 51-217a. Jurors excused from service. Option to be considered for service.

(a) A person shall be excused from jury service during the jury year commencing September 1, 1999, and each jury year thereafter, if during the next three preceding jury years such person appeared in a court for jury service and was not excused from such jury service, except that such person may request to be summoned for jury service during such three-jury-year period in the same manner as persons are summoned who are not excused from jury service. Such request may be made at any time with written notice to the Jury Administrator.

(b) The court shall have authority to excuse a juror from juror service, upon a finding of extreme hardship.

Who handles excusals is prescribed?

**The court**

Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 51-217a. Jurors excused from service. Option to be considered for service.

(a) A person shall be excused from jury service during the jury year commencing September 1, 1999, and each jury year thereafter, if during the next three preceding jury years such person appeared in a court for jury service and was not excused from such jury service, except that such person may request to be summoned for jury service during such three-jury-year period in the same manner as persons are summoned who are not excused from jury service. Such request may be made at any time with written notice to the Jury Administrator.

(b) The court shall have authority to excuse a juror from juror service, upon a finding of extreme hardship.

Deferral/Postponement of jury service allowed

Conn. Gen Stat Sec. 51-217b. Information for prospective jurors. Postponement of jury service or accommodations for breastfeeding women.

(a) The Judicial Branch shall maintain on its Internet web site a section providing prospective jurors with general information regarding jury service, including, but not limited to, information for breastfeeding women regarding their ability to postpone jury service. Said web site shall also provide contact information for Jury Administration in the event that a breastfeeding woman or other prospective juror would like to request that a reasonable accommodation be made.

(b) The Jury Administrator shall provide training to his or her staff and court staff on discrete issues and policy for breastfeeding women who have been summoned for jury service, including, but not limited to, reasonable accommodations that may be made.

Number of petit jurors for jury trial is prescribed?

Sec. 51-219b. How to determine number of jurors to be summoned.

(a) In determining the number of jurors to be summoned for jury duty at a court location, the following factors, as well as any other factors which may be relevant, shall be considered: The number of judges assigned to jury trials at the court location; the types of cases that will come to trial during the period of time for which the panel will be summoned; the experience of the court location in regard to the number of jurors who actually serve in relation to the number of jurors who are summoned for service; and the experience of the court location in regard to the number of jurors required in the juror pool in order to insure that judicial affairs will be reasonably conducted without delay.

(b) Clerks of court shall keep and furnish any records and data which the Jury Administrator requires in order to determine whether jurors are being effectively utilized.

(c) For the purpose of analyzing whether the number of prospective jurors required by section 51-220 is suitable, at such times as the Jury Administrator deems necessary, each chief clerk of the Superior Court shall notify the Jury Administrator in writing of (1) the estimated number of prospective jurors who will be needed to serve at such particular court location or locations during the year commencing the first of the next succeeding September, and (2) the towns from which the prospective jurors shall be drawn.

Sec. 51-219c. Adjustment in number of jurors.

If it is determined that any estimate by the chief clerks under subsection (c) of section 51-219b, is in excess of or lacking in the number of jurors chosen under section 51-220 for those towns within a given judicial district, the Jury Administrator may adjust the number of jurors chosen for those towns within the judicial district in the following manner: (1) The total adjustment in number shall be determined by the Jury Administrator and (2) where possible, the total adjustment shall be apportioned among all towns within the judicial district and in proportion to each town’s population based on the last United States census.

Sec. 51-220. Number of jurors for each town.

The number of jurors to be chosen from each town shall be equal to a percentage of the town’s population rounded off to the nearest whole number, such percentage to be determined by the Jury Administrator. Such population figures shall derive from the last published census of the United States government.