HF3336 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Certain felons made ineligible to serve as jurors in criminal cases.
Related bill: SF3460
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill aims to strengthen public safety by ensuring that people who are under correctional supervision for a felony offense cannot serve as jurors in criminal cases.
Main Provisions
- New rule added: A person under correctional supervision for a felony offense is not eligible to serve on any jury, including a grand jury, in a criminal case.
- Scope: Applies to all juror roles in criminal cases (trial jurors and grand jurors).
- End of ineligibility: This prohibition remains in effect until the person’s sentence has been discharged, as described in section 609.165.
- Placement in law: The rule would be codified in Minnesota Statutes, specifically as a new section 593.55, “Felons ineligible for jury service while under supervision.”
- Oversight clause: The rule uses a “Notwithstanding any law or court rule to the contrary” language, meaning this prohibition takes precedence over other laws or rules unless another provision says otherwise.
Relationship to Existing Law
- The provision adds a new standard to determine jury eligibility based on correctional status.
- It references the discharge of sentence process described in section 609.165, tying jury eligibility to the formal discharge of the felony sentence.
- The use of “Notwithstanding” indicates the rule overrides conflicting laws or rules when determining who may serve on a jury.
Practical Effects
- Jury pool impact: People under correctional supervision for a felony will be barred from serving as jurors during supervision, which may reduce the pool of eligible jurors temporarily.
- Timeframe for eligibility: Once the sentence is discharged, the individual would become eligible to serve again under the new rule.
- Juror scope: Applies to both regular juries and grand juries in criminal cases.
Potential Implications
- Public safety: Aligns jury composition with the supervision status of individuals convicted of felonies.
- Administrative considerations: Courts and clerks will need to screen potential jurors for correctional supervision status and discharge timing to enforce eligibility.
Relevant Terms - felons - felony offense - correctional supervision - jury service - juror - grand jury - criminal case - Minnesota Statutes chapter 593.1 (reference context) - section 609.165 (sentence discharge) - not withstanding - ineligible - eligibility - discharge of sentence - supervision status
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2025 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Public Safety Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Imposes a prohibition on felons under correctional supervision serving on juries (including grand juries) until discharge of sentence, as defined in section 609.165."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill references existing Minnesota Statute 609.165 (Discharge from sentence) to establish that a person under correctional supervision for a felony is ineligible to serve as a juror until their sentence is discharged.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.165",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee