Bill Text: MS HB1397 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Juries; exempt ministers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2012-03-06 - Died In Committee [HB1397 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-HB1397-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representative Hood (By Request)
House Bill 1397
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 13-5-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXEMPT MINISTERS FROM JURY SERVICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 13-5-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
13-5-25. Every citizen over sixty-five (65) years of age, * * * everyone who has served as a grand juror or as a petit juror in the trial of a litigated case within two (2) years, any minister ordained according to the rules of his church, shall be exempt from service if the juror claims the privilege. No qualified juror shall be excluded because of any such reasons, but the same shall be a personal privilege to be claimed by any person selected for jury duty. Any citizen over sixty-five (65) years of age may claim this personal privilege outside of open court by providing the clerk of court with information that allows the clerk to determine the validity of the claim.
Provided, however, that no person who has served as a grand juror or as a petit juror in a trial of a litigated case in one (1) court may claim the exemption in any other court where the juror may be called to serve.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.
