Bill Sponsors
Senator Pamela J. Lauria
Committee
Senate Judiciary
Summary
Select
This legislation updates the list of individuals who are exempt from mandatory jury duty service in Rhode Island. Currently, exemptions are granted to various government officials, law enforcement personnel, and active military members. This bill adds a new category to this list: any person who is seventy (70) years of age or older. While this change allows seniors in this age group to decline jury service without penalty, they are not prohibited from serving if they choose to waive their exemption.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Recognizes the potential health, mobility, and stamina challenges faced by the elderly, ensuring they are not forced into physically demanding civic duties that could compromise their well-being.
- Respects the autonomy of senior citizens by allowing them to choose whether to participate in the justice system, rather than mandating service, thereby reducing undue stress on vulnerable community members.
- Eliminates bureaucratic hurdles for low-income seniors who might otherwise struggle to navigate the complex process of obtaining medical hardship deferrals or notes from doctors.
Cons for Progressives
- Reduces the diversity of jury pools by potentially removing a demographic with significant life experience, patience, and wisdom, which is vital for a balanced and representative justice system.
- Could inadvertently reinforce ageist stereotypes that suggest individuals over the age of seventy are no longer capable of performing civic duties effectively or contributing to society.
- Diminishes the opportunity for intergenerational civic engagement, where younger and older generations collaborate in the democratic process of administering justice.
Pros for Conservatives
- Reduces government coercion by removing a state mandate on private citizens, upholding the principle of individual liberty and freedom of choice for seniors.
- Demonstrates respect for the elderly by acknowledging their lifelong contributions to society and relieving them of compulsory government service in their later years.
- Streamlines the judicial process by reducing the administrative burden and costs associated with processing deferral requests for a demographic that frequently requires them.
Cons for Conservatives
- Dilutes the pool of potential jurors who may hold traditional values and significant life experience, potentially skewing jury verdicts away from conservative principles.
- Undermines the concept of universal civic duty by creating a blanket exemption based solely on age rather than individual capability, setting a precedent for opting out of civic responsibilities.
- Could weaken the rule of law by reducing the number of available jurors who have the time and maturity to carefully consider complex legal arguments.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- People age 70 and older
- Jury Commissioners
- Court Clerks
- Trial Attorneys
- Defendants
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
None
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/09/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 9-9-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-9 entitled "Jury Lists" is hereby amended to read as follows:
9-9-3. Persons exempt from service.
The following persons shall be exempted from serving as jurors, unless such persons shall waive their exemption, namely: the members of congress from the state of Rhode Island, the general officers of the state, the members and officers of the general assembly during their tenure of office irrespective of whether the general assembly is in session or not, the jury commissioner and his or her assistants, the justices of the state and United States courts, clerks of those courts, practicing attorneys-at-law, correctional officers, deputy sheriffs, probation and parole officers, members of any paid police force of the state or of any city or town, members of any paid fire department of any city or town,and members of the armed services on active duty, and any person seventy (70) years of age or older.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
9-9-3. Persons exempt from service.
The following persons shall be exempted from serving as jurors, unless such persons shall waive their exemption, namely: the members of congress from the state of Rhode Island, the general officers of the state, the members and officers of the general assembly during their tenure of office irrespective of whether the general assembly is in session or not, the jury commissioner and his or her assistants, the justices of the state and United States courts, clerks of those courts, practicing attorneys-at-law, correctional officers, deputy sheriffs, probation and parole officers, members of any paid police force of the state or of any city or town, members of any paid fire department of any city or town,
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.