S4668

An Act concerning jury duty and amending N.J.S. N.J.S.2B:20-10.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. N.J.S.2B:20-10 is amended to read as follows:

2B:20-10. An excuse from jury service shall be granted only if:

a. The prospective juror is [75] 70 years of age or older;

b. The prospective juror has served as a juror within the last three years in the county to which the juror is being summoned;

c. Jury service will impose a severe hardship due to circumstances which are not likely to change within the following year. Severe hardship includes the following circumstances:

(1) The prospective juror has a medical inability to serve which is verified by a licensed physician.

(2) The prospective juror will suffer a severe financial hardship which will compromise the juror's ability to support himself, herself, or dependents. In determining whether to excuse the prospective juror, the Assignment Judge shall consider:

(a) the sources of the prospective juror's household income; and

(b) the availability and extent of income reimbursement; and

(3) The prospective juror has a personal obligation to care for another, including:

(a) a dependent who is sick, is elderly, or has an infirmity or a minor child, who requires the prospective juror's personal care and attention, and no alternative care is available without severe financial hardship on the prospective juror or the person requiring care; or

(b) a child who is one year of age or younger where the prospective juror is the child's mother and is nursing or expressing milk for the child.

(4) The prospective juror provides highly specialized technical health care services for which replacement cannot reasonably be obtained.

(5) The prospective juror is a health care worker directly involved in the care of a person with a mental or physical disability, and the prospective juror's continued presence is essential to the personal treatment of that person.

(6) The prospective juror is a member of the full-time instructional staff of a grammar school or high school, the scheduled jury service is during the school term, and a replacement cannot reasonably be obtained. In determining whether to excuse the prospective juror or grant a deferral of service, the Assignment Judge shall consider:

(a) the impact on the school considering the number and function of teachers called for jury service during the current academic year; and

(b) the special role of certified special education teachers in providing continuity of instruction to students with disabilities;

d. The prospective juror is a member of a volunteer fire department or fire patrol; or

e. The prospective juror is a volunteer member of a first aid or rescue squad.

(cf: P.L.2025, c.43, s.1)

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill provides that a person 70 years of age or older may be excused from jury service.

Under current law, N.J.S.A.2B:20-10 enumerates the grounds for excuse from jury service. A person eligible for an excuse from jury duty is allowed to serve on a jury, but is not required to serve.

A person may be excused from jury service under current law if: the juror is 75 years of age or older; the juror has served as a juror within the last three years; jury service would impose a severe hardship; the juror is a volunteer fire department or fire patrol member; the juror is a volunteer first aid or rescue squad member, or the juror is responsible for the care of another or is a nursing mother.

Under the bill, a person 70 years of age or older may be excused from jury service.