Exemption for Elderly Jurors (S 2052)

Despite its good intentions, we opposed legislation which would automatically exempt from jury duty any person who is seventy years of age or older. A diverse jury pool is a cornerstone of the jury trial system. While elderly Rhode Islanders may have legitimate individual grounds for seeking excusal from jury duty – such as medical burdens, travel restrictions and the like – they are all reasons potentially applicable to any number of people eligible for jury duty, and they should be similarly considered on an individual basis. This legislation died in committee.