Public Act 90-0482 of the 90th General Assembly

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Public Act 90-0482

SB303 Enrolled                                 LRB9001845RCks

    AN ACT concerning circuit courts, amending named Acts.

    Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

    Section  5.  The Jury Act is amended by changing Sections
1, 2, and 10.2 as follows:

    (705 ILCS 305/1) (from Ch. 78, par. 1)
    Sec. 1. The county board of  each  county,  except  those
counties   which   have   a   jury   administrator   or  jury
commissioners as provided in the Jury Commission Act,  shall,
at  or  before the time of its meeting, in September, in each
year, or at any  time  thereafter,  when  necessary  for  the
purpose  of this Act, make a list of the legal voters and the
Illinois driver's license, Illinois Identification Card,  and
Illinois  Disabled  Person Identification Card holders of the
county, giving the place of residence of  each  name  on  the
list,  to  be known as a jury list. The list shall be made by
choosing  every  tenth  name,  or  other  whole  number  rate
necessary to obtain the  number  required,  from  the  latest
voter    registration    and    drivers   license,   Illinois
Identification   Card,   and   Illinois    Disabled    Person
Identification Card holders lists of the county. In compiling
the  jury  list, duplication of names shall be avoided to the
extent practicable.
    As used in this Act, "jury administrator" is  defined  as
under Section 0.05 of the Jury Commission Act.
(Source: P.A. 88-27.)

    (705 ILCS 305/2) (from Ch. 78, par. 2)
    Sec.  2.  At the September meeting of the county board in
each year in the respective counties in  this  State,  except
those  that  have  jury commissioners, the board shall select
from the list the number of persons  as  the  judges  of  the
circuit   courts,  to  be  held  in  the  county  during  the
succeeding year, may by joint action determine  to  serve  as
petit  jurors.  In  counties  having  jury commissioners, the
persons to serve as petit jurors shall  be  selected  by  the
jury  commissioners,  as  provided  by law.  County boards, a
jury administrator, and jury commissioners  may  utilize  the
services  of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
in  making  these  selections.  Jurors  in  all  counties  in
Illinois  must   have   the   legal   qualifications   herein
prescribed. Jurors must be:
    (1)  Inhabitants of the county.
    (2)  Of the age of 18 years or upwards.
    (3)  Free from all legal exception, of fair character, of
approved  integrity,  of  sound  judgment, well informed, and
able to understand the English language, whether in spoken or
written form or interpreted into sign language.
    (4)  Citizens of the United States of America.
(Source: P.A. 88-27.)

    (705 ILCS 305/10.2) (from Ch. 78, par. 10.2)
    Sec. 10.2.  The county boards of the respective counties,
or the jury commissioners for those counties which have  been
appointed   pursuant   to   "An   Act  in  relation  to  jury
commissioners  and  authorizing  judges   to   appoint   such
commissioners  and  to make rules concerning their powers and
duties", approved June  15,  1887,  as  amended,  or  a  jury
administrator    shall   have   the   authority   to   submit
questionnaires to prospective jurors to inquire as  to  their
qualifications  for  jury service and as to the hardship that
jury service would pose  to  the  prospective  jurors.   Upon
prior approval by the chief judge of the judicial circuits in
which   a  county  board,  jury  administrator,  or  of  jury
commissioners  are   situated,   the   county   board,   jury
administrator,   or   jury   commissioners   shall  excuse  a
prospective juror from jury service if the prospective  juror
shows  that  such  service  would impose an undue hardship on
account of the nature of the prospective juror's  occupation,
business  affairs,  physical health, family situation, active
duty  in  the  Illinois  National  Guard  or  Illinois  Naval
Militia, or other personal affairs, and cause his or her name
to be returned to the jury list or general jury list.
(Source: P.A. 85-407.)

    Section  10.  The  Jury  Commission  Act  is  amended  by
changing Sections 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10 and adding Section
0.05 as follows:

    (705 ILCS 310/0.05 new)
    Sec. 0.05.  Jury administrator defined.  As used in  this
Act,  "jury  administrator"  means  an  employee of a circuit
court located in a county  with  a  population  of  at  least
3,000,000,  appointed by the chief judge for that circuit and
who, at the  direction  of  the  chief  judge,  performs  the
functions of jury commissioners.

    (705 ILCS 310/1) (from Ch. 78, par. 24)
    Sec.   1.  (a)  In   every   county  of  this  State  now
containing, or which may hereafter contain more  than  75,000
inhabitants,  and  in any other county with a population less
than 3,000,000  in  which  the  county  board  by  resolution
determines  that  jury  commissioners shall be appointed, the
circuit judges in the circuit of which the county is a  part,
or  a majority of them, shall choose 3 competent and discreet
electors, who shall not be so  chosen  on  account  of  party
affiliations,  who shall be known as jury commissioners. Such
commissioners shall, in counties now containing the  required
number of inhabitants, be chosen on the first Monday of July,
1897,  and  in  counties  hereafter  containing  the required
number of inhabitants such commissioners shall be  chosen  on
the first Monday of July, after it shall have been determined
by the last preceding national census that the inhabitants of
such  county  are  of the number required or after the county
board by resolution determines that jury commissioners  shall
be  appointed,  as the case may be. Of the first 3 so chosen,
one shall hold his office for one year, one for 2  years  and
one  for  3  years,  to  be determined by lot, and every year
thereafter one such officer shall be chosen for the term of 3
years. Each of such commissioners, before entering  upon  the
duties  of his office, shall take and subscribe to an oath of
office before one of such judges, and shall execute a bond to
the People of the State of Illinois in  such  sums  and  with
such  sureties  as shall be required by such judge and be, by
him, approved, conditioned for the faithful discharge of  his
duties  as  such  commissioner during his term of office. The
majority of the Circuit judges herein referred to may  remove
either of such commissioners, assigning reasons therefor, and
fill  all  vacancies  occurring  in  the  office  of any such
commissioners by death, resignation or removal.
    (b)  In counties with a population of at least 3,000,000,
the chief judge of the circuit of that county may discontinue
the appointment of jury commissioners for  that  county.   If
the chief judge of a circuit in a county with a population of
at  least 3,000,000 discontinues the appointments of the jury
commissioners, the functions of the jury commissioners may be
performed by a jury administrator. The jury commissioners  in
office at the time of the discontinuance shall complete their
terms   of  office  and  shall  discharge  their  duties  and
responsibilities as assigned  by  the  chief  judge  of  that
circuit.
(Source: P.A. 85-235; 85-469.)
    (705 ILCS 310/2) (from Ch. 78, par. 25)
    Sec.  2.  In  a  county  with  a  population  of at least
3,000,000 in which a jury administrator or jury commissioners
have   been   appointed,    the   jury    administrator    or
commissioners, upon entering upon the duties of their office,
and  every  4  years  thereafter, shall prepare a list of all
legal voters and  all  Illinois  driver's  license,  Illinois
Identification    Card,    and   Illinois   Disabled   Person
Identification Card holders of each town or precinct  of  the
county possessing the necessary legal qualifications for jury
duty,  to  be  known  as  the  jury list.  In a county with a
population  of  less  than  3,000,000   in   which   a   jury
administrator  or jury commissioners have been appointed, the
jury administrator or jury commissioners upon  entering  upon
the  duties  of their office, and each year thereafter, shall
prepare a list of all  Illinois  driver's  license,  Illinois
Identification    Card,    and   Illinois   Disabled   Person
Identification Card holders and all registered voters of  the
county to be known as the jury list.
    The  jury list may be revised and amended annually in the
discretion of the commissioners or  jury  administrator.  Any
record  kept  by the jury commissioners or jury administrator
for over 4 years may be destroyed at  their  discretion.  The
name of each person on the list shall be entered in a book or
books  to  be  kept  for  that purpose, and opposite the name
shall be entered his or  her  age  and  place  of  residence,
giving street and number, if any.
    The   jury  administrator,  jury  commissioners,  or  the
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall receive an
up-to-date  list  of  Illinois  driver's  license,   Illinois
Identification    Card,    and   Illinois   Disabled   Person
Identification Card holders from the Secretary  of  State  as
provided in Section 1a of the Jury Act. In compiling the jury
list,  duplication  of  names  shall be avoided to the extent
practicable.
    Whenever the name of a registered voter  or  an  Illinois
driver's  license,  Illinois Identification Card, or Illinois
Disabled Person Identification  Card  holder  appearing  upon
this  jury list is transferred to the active jury list in the
manner prescribed by Section 8 of  this  Act,  the  following
additional  information  shall  be recorded after the name of
the voter: the age of the voter, his or  her  occupation,  if
any, whether or not he or she is a resident residing with his
or  her  family  and  whether or not he or she is an owner or
life tenant of real estate in the county.
(Source: P.A. 88-27; 88-40; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)

    (705 ILCS 310/3) (from Ch. 78, par. 26)
    Sec. 3.  (a) The  said  commissioners  are  empowered  to
provide  a  suitable room or rooms in which to transact their
business, and to incur all  other  necessary  expenses  which
shall  be  paid by warrants drawn as provided in section 6 of
this act, and with the approval of said judges or a  majority
thereof  to  appoint  a  clerk  and  the  requisite number of
assistants. In counties having 1,000,000 or more inhabitants,
the clerk, if there be one, shall be on duty at the  room  or
rooms  of  said  commissioners each day during the session of
court; if there be no clerk, then  one,  at  least,  of  said
commissioners  shall,  in  like  manner,  be  present,  if so
prescribed by the rules hereinafter mentioned. The said  jury
commissioners  shall  also  have  power to summon electors to
appear  before  them  and  to  examine  them  touching  their
qualifications  for  jury   service;   and   each   of   said
commissioners  and their clerk and assistants provided for in
this act, are hereby empowered to  administer  all  oaths  or
affirmations  required  in  the  discharge  of their official
duties. Any Circuit Court of this state, in any county  where
this  law is in force, or any judge thereof, upon application
of any such jury commissioners may in the discretion  of  the
court  compel  the  attendance  of electors and the giving of
testimony before the said jury commissioners,  by  attachment
for  contempt  or  otherwise,  in  the  same  manner  as  the
production  of  evidence  may be compelled before said court.
Every person, who having taken an oath or made affirmation as
herein provided, shall swear or affirm  willfully,  corruptly
and  falsely, shall be guilty of perjury, and upon conviction
shall be punished accordingly.
    (b)  In a county with a population of at least 3,000,000,
if a jury administrator is designated by the chief  judge  of
that  circuit to perform the functions of jury commissioners,
the chief judge of that circuit is authorized  to  provide  a
suitable  room  or rooms in which to transact the business of
qualifying jurors  and  to  incur  all  the  other  necessary
expenses to be paid by the county treasurer.  The chief judge
for  that  circuit  is  authorized  to  designate a requisite
number of assistants to aid in the  functions  of  qualifying
jurors.
(Source: P.A. 76-1663.)

    (705 ILCS 310/7) (from Ch. 78, par. 30)
    Sec.  7.  The jury list provided for in Section 2 of this
Act shall be known as the general jury list, and  the  manner
of   its  preparation  by  the  jury  administrator  or  jury
commissioners shall be as prescribed by the chief judge or by
rules to be adopted by majority vote of the said judges.
(Source: Laws 1931, p. 655.)

    (705 ILCS 310/8) (from Ch. 78, par. 31)
    Sec. 8.  In such manner as may be prescribed by rules  to
be  adopted  by  majority  vote  of the said judges, the jury
administrator or the jury commissioners shall also:
    (a)  From time to time prepare a  secondary  list  to  be
known  as  the  active  jury  list, containing such number of
names taken from the general jury list as shall be  appointed
by the said rules, and in addition thereto, such other lists,
to  be  known  as  period  jury  lists, as the said rules may
require. Such period  jury  lists,  if  provided  for,  shall
contain  the  names  of  prospective  jurors  who  shall have
indicated, either before or after  being  summoned  for  jury
duty,  at  what time of the year they could most conveniently
serve. The active jury list and, except as to  the  names  of
persons  certified back by the clerk of the court as provided
in Section 10 of this act, the period jury  lists,  shall  be
prepared  by  selecting  every twentieth name, or other whole
number rate necessary to obtain the number required,  or,  in
counties  having  a  population  greater than 1,000,000, in a
manner prescribed by the judge in charge of  jury  selection,
from the general jury list;
    (b)  Make  the  active  jury  list  and, except as to the
names of persons certified back by the clerk of the court  as
provided  in  Section  10 of this Act, the period jury lists,
available for  the  clerks  of  the  circuit  court  to  draw
therefrom  by lot, as hereinafter required, providing for the
purpose such devices or mechanisms as the  said  rules  shall
prescribe;
    (c)  See  that  at  least  2 jury commissioners, one jury
commissioner of their number, or one of their  number  and  a
judge  of  the  circuit  court  of  the  county,  or  a  jury
administrator  shall  be  present  at any such drawing, along
with the clerk of the said jury commissioners,  if  there  be
one,  except that if the names are to be drawn by computer no
jury commissioner need be present at any drawing by computer;
    (d)  Provide for the manner of selection of jurors to  be
provided  to  coroners  pursuant  to Section 10 of "An Act to
revise the law in relation to  coroners",  approved  July  1,
1874,  as  amended;  provided  that  such manner of selection
shall be, to the extent practicable, similar to the manner in
which petit and grand jurors are selected; and
    (e)  Perform  such  other  duties  in  relation  to   the
selection  of  electors for jury service and their appearance
for such service as are prescribed by  this  act  or  may  be
prescribed by the said rules or procedures established by the
chief judge of the circuit.
(Source: P.A. 85-345; 86-1053.)

    (705 ILCS 310/9) (from Ch. 78, par. 32)
    Sec.  9.  In other than single county circuits, the chief
judge of the circuit court of the county shall certify to the
clerk of the court the number of petit jurors  required  each
month.  The clerk shall then repair to the office of the jury
commissioners or the jury administrator  and  there,  in  the
presence  of  the persons mentioned in Section 8 of this act,
proceed to draw by lot or by random  electronic  process  the
necessary  number of names from those made available for such
drawing as in Section 8 of this act provided. The clerk shall
thereupon certify the electors whose names are so drawn,  and
summon  them  by the type of mail service selected from among
those  permitted  for  service  of  petit  and  grand  jurors
selected in "An Act concerning jurors, and to repeal  certain
Acts therein named", approved February 11, 1874, as amended.
    If  service of summons cannot be made by the type of mail
service selected, the clerk of the court issuing such summons
shall, as soon as  that  fact  is  determined,  re-issue  and
deliver  the  summons for the juror not served to the sheriff
for service as provided in such case in Section 9 of "An  Act
concerning jurors, and to repeal certain Acts therein named,"
approved  February  11,  1874, as amended. If more jurors are
needed during the month,  a  judge  of  the  court  shall  so
certify,  and they shall be drawn and certified forthwith and
served in the manner above provided. Whenever a grand jury is
required by law or by order of the court, it shall  be  drawn
and certified and served in like manner.
(Source: P.A. 80-780.)

    (705 ILCS 310/10) (from Ch. 78, par. 33)
    Sec.  10.  When any elector drawn and summoned as a petit
juror or as a  grand  juror  shall  appear  in  obedience  to
summons,  any  judge  of  the  court  in  which  he  has thus
appeared, if satisfied that, on account of the nature of  the
elector's  occupation,  business  affairs,  physical  health,
family  situation,  active duty in military service, or other
personal affairs, service at another time will subject him to
less inconvenience,  shall  have  discretion  to  excuse  him
temporarily  from service as juror or grand juror and require
him to appear at a subsequent day not  later  than  one  year
from  the  time of such excuse. And if any elector so excused
shall fail to appear  for  service  at  the  later  day  thus
designated,  his  attendance  shall  be  enforced in the same
manner as is now provided by law for the case of his  failure
to  appear in obedience to summons. When any elector has been
so temporarily excused, the fact of such excuse and  the  day
at  which  he  is to appear for service shall be certified by
the clerk of the court to the jury commissioners or the  jury
administrator.   The   jury   commissioners   or   the   jury
administrator  shall thereupon place the name of such elector
upon the appropriate period jury list, if period  jury  lists
have  been  provided for by the said rules, and, in any case,
shall, at least ten days  before  the  day  at  which  he  is
required  to  appear  for  service, send him by mail a notice
reminding him of his duty to appear.  Failure  to  send  such
notice,  however, shall not affect the duty of the elector to
appear as required at the time of his temporary  excuse.  The
number of petit jurors to be drawn by the clerk of any of the
said  courts for any given month, as provided in Section 9 of
this act, shall be reduced by the number of petit  jurors  on
the  period  jury  list under duty to appear in that court at
that month. A like reduction shall be made in the  number  of
persons  to be drawn as grand jurors as provided in Section 9
of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 84-1428.)

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