HR0214 LRB094 11662 CSA 43147 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The candid participation of jurors in the jury
3 selection process is vital to the administration of the civil
4 and criminal justice systems in the State of Illinois; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Jurors often suffer personal and economic
6 hardships due to their service on a jury; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Venire persons have a legitimate expectation of
8 privacy in personal information about themselves; and
 
9     WHEREAS, A potential juror's history of crime
10 victimization or arrest by the police can unfairly embarrass
11 that person if such information is disclosed to the public at
12 large or the press; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Juror citizens have complained to their elected
14 representatives that a few trial court judges and attorneys in
15 this State have asked embarrassing questions about such
16 personal information in open court; and
 
17     WHEREAS, After such disclosures, further inquiries by
18 neighbors or the press sometime occur; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The best practices among trial court judges is to
20 advise the venire in open court that if an answer to questions
21 put to them by court or counsel is unduly embarrassing, they
22 can request to be heard "in chambers" (outside open court) with
23 the parties and counsel present; and
 
24     WHEREAS, The Illinois Constitution vests in the Illinois
25 Supreme Court supervisory authority over all judges in the
26 State of Illinois; therefore, be it
 
27     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

 

 

HR0214 - 2 - LRB094 11662 CSA 43147 r

1 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
2 we respectfully urge the Illinois Supreme Court to adopt by
3 rule or provide further judicial training on the best practices
4 for voir dire; and be it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution by delivered to
6 the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court for due
7 consideration.