HF5029

Purpose

• The bill creates criminal penalties for bribing or corruptly influencing a juror in any Minnesota court. It adds a new statutory offense focused on juror bribery and aims to protect the integrity of jury trials.

Main Provisions

• New offense: Bribery of a Juror, codified as Minnesota Statutes section 609.421.
• Subdivision 1 – Offering bribery: Anyone who offers, gives, or promises to give, directly or indirectly, any benefit, reward, or consideration to a juror with the intent to influence the juror’s vote or position on a matter before the juror is guilty of a felony.
• Subdivision 2 – Receiving bribery: A juror who is summoned to any court and who requests, receives, or agrees to receive any benefit, reward, or consideration with the understanding that it will influence the juror’s vote or position is guilty of a felony.
• Subdivision 3 – Sentence: A person who violates this section may be imprisoned for up to 10 years, or fined up to $20,000, or both.
• The bill also notes amendments to existing law (Minnesota Statutes) related to this new provision, integrating the new offense within the state’s criminal code.

Scope and Application

• Applies to any court in the state of Minnesota.
• Covers jurors who are impaneled or not, and jurors summoned to court.

Significance and Impact

• Establishes clear felony-level penalties for attempts to bribe, offer, or influence jurors, and for jurors who accept such benefits.
• Aims to preserve the fairness and impartiality of jury deliberations by criminalizing bribery and corrupt influence of jurors.

Key Changes to Law

• Creates a new statute (609.421) outlining the offenses of offering and receiving juror bribery and the associated penalties.
• References amendments to existing statutes (e.g., 609.425) to align with or support the new offense.

Relevant Terms - Bribery of a Juror - Juror - Court - Offering bribery - Receiving bribery - Benefit - Reward - Consideration - Intent to influence - Vote - Position - Impaneled - Summoned - Felony - Imprisonment - Fine - 609.421 - 609.425 - Minnesota Statutes