HB 49: Juror Eligibility Amendments - Utah

Substitute #2 → Enrolled · 3 edits · Mar 25, 2025

MINOR

This bill updates the eligibility rules for jury service in Utah, specifically addressing how individuals with felony convictions are treated. The key change expands the scope of ineligibility to include felony convictions from both state and federal courts, whereas the previous version only referenced state convictions. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a felony conviction does not permanently disqualify a person if the conviction has been expunged or reduced to a misdemeanor.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was broadened to explicitly include federal felony convictions alongside state felony convictions as grounds for juror disqualification.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the disqualification rule for felons to apply to convictions in both state and federal courts, whereas the prior text only mentioned state courts.

Clarified that a felony conviction no longer bars jury service if the conviction has been expunged or reduced to a misdemeanor.

TIMELINE

Added a specific effective date of May 7, 2025, which was missing from the previous version.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's jury eligibility rules to allow some individuals with past felony convictions to serve on juries after a waiting period, rather than permanently barring them. It clarifies the timeline for when a person becomes eligible and adds a specific exception preventing them from serving in cases involving crimes similar to their past felony.

Scope change

The scope of eligibility was expanded to include individuals with non-expunged felony convictions who meet specific time and registration requirements, while simultaneously narrowing eligibility for those with similar past crimes in criminal cases.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the waiting period requirement from a simple 10-year duration to a 'later of' standard, meaning the clock starts only after the latest of the conviction date, release from incarceration, or completion of probation/parole.

Added a new prohibition preventing individuals with felony convictions from serving on juries for criminal cases if the new charges are similar to their past felony.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for an individual to have completed all terms of incarceration, parole, and probation as separate conditions, consolidating these into the single 'later of' date calculation.

Removed the specific requirement that the individual must have completed any term of incarceration related to the felony conviction as a standalone condition.

TIMELINE

Added an effective date of May 7, 2025, specifying when the new rules take effect.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's juror eligibility rules to clarify when individuals with felony convictions can serve on juries. The changes expand eligibility by allowing some felons to serve after 10 years have passed and they are no longer required to register as a sex offender, kidnap offender, or child abuse offender. It also adds a new disqualification rule preventing individuals from serving on criminal juries if the charged offense is similar to their past felony conviction.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of who may serve as jurors by creating specific exceptions for individuals with felony convictions who meet certain time and registration requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed eligibility criteria from a blanket ban on unexpunged felons to allowing service if the conviction was expunged, reduced to a misdemeanor, or if 10 years have passed since conviction/release/probation and the individual is no longer required to register as a sex/kidnap/child abuse offender.

Added a new disqualification provision preventing individuals from serving on criminal juries if the charged offense is similar to their prior felony conviction.

TECHNICAL

Changed terminology from 'person' to 'individual' throughout the statute for consistency.

Adjusted age requirement language from '18 years of age' to '18 years old or older' for clarity.

Reorganized subsection numbering, converting the old subsection (3) about court determination into subsection (3), and adding a new subsection (4) about clerk record-keeping.

Juror Eligibility Amendments

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