Assembly Passes Bill on Jurors’ Rights
The Assembly passed a bill on Monday that would ensure that jurors contacted by an attorney after a trial are aware of their right to refuse to answer questions.
The bill by Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) passed unanimously and now goes to the Senate. Jackson’s 35th District includes Ventura, Ojai and Santa Paula.
The measure ensures that attorneys who contact former jurors say the following: whom they represent, why they are contacting the juror, that the juror has a right to refuse to talk to them and that the juror has the right to review and receive a copy of any subsequent declarations filed in court.
“With fewer Californians willingly participating in jury pools, it is vital that we maintain confidence in the justice system, particularly for those who do volunteer,” Jackson said.
The bill is meant to help jurors feel they are not being misled or misinterpreted by an attorney attempting to find evidence of jury misconduct.
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