REFERENCE TITLE: juror contact; advisement; interview requirements  

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fourth Legislature

First Regular Session

2019

 

 

SB 1313

 

Introduced by

Senator Farnsworth E

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending section 21‑312, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to jurors.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Section 21-312, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE21-312.  Juror records; juror advisement; contact with jurors within and outside of the courthouse

A.  The list of juror names or other juror information shall not be released unless specifically required by law or ordered by the court.

B.  All records that contain juror biographical information are closed to the public and shall be returned to the jury commissioner, the jury manager or the court when jury selection is completed and may not be further disclosed or disseminated by a party or the party's attorney.

C.  A random jury box seating list is confidential before use.

D.  On discharge of a jury, the court shall advise the jurors, both verbally and in writing, that a juror may accept or decline contact with either party or a party's representative on this date or on any future date.  The jurors shall be provided an opportunity to opt in or opt out of contact and the decision of each juror shall be made a part of the court record.

E.  After discharge but before jurors leave the courthouse, either party in the case may initiate contact with a juror who has opted in unless otherwise directed by the court.  A member of the court's staff must be present if a juror wishes to speak with the parties before leaving the courthouse.  After discharge and after jurors leave the courthouse, a party or a party's representative may not contact a juror who has opted out of contact without first obtaining a court order establishing good cause for the proposed juror contact and endorsing opposing counsel on the request for the court order.  A court order that allows juror contact must include the scope of the contact. END_STATUTE