SB145 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Jury trials, six member juries authorized in certain criminal proceedings and certain civil cases in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000, Sec. 12-16-100, 12-16-101, 12-16-140 am'd.

Summary

SB145 would allow six-member juries in certain civil and criminal cases, add age-based jury exemptions for people 70 and older, and adjust jury selection rules accordingly.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes six-member juries for civil cases where the amount in controversy is $50,000 or less and for misdemeanor (noncapital) criminal cases. It also requires a six-member jury in cases where a defendant pleads guilty to a nonviolent offense under presumptive sentencing and the prosecutor seeks an increased sentence due to aggravating circumstances. The bill preserves the existing jury selection process (strike lists) but applies it to these six-member panels; for civil cases, it changes the jury size and struck-jury method up to the new panel size. It adds a new exemption for people aged 70 and older to be excused from jury service, to be removed from the master list of potential jurors, and to be reinstated upon request. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is passed and approved.

Who It Affects

• Parties and potential jurors involved in civil cases with an amount in controversy up to $50,000 and in misdemeanor noncapital criminal cases, who would be served by six-member juries instead of twelve.
• People aged 70 and older, who gain the ability to be excused from jury service, removed from the master list, and later reinstated upon request.

Key Provisions

• Amends 12-16-100 to provide a six-member jury in misdemeanor or violation criminal cases and in guilty-plea cases with presumptive sentencing where aggravating circumstances are pursued by the prosecutor.
• Amends 12-16-101 to specify that in joint trials, felony cases use twelve jurors and misdemeanor/violation cases use six jurors (subject to the six-member rule in applicable scenarios).
• Amends 12-16-140 to allow civil actions up to $50,000 to use a struck-jury process that results in a six-member jury; other civil actions continue to use a larger pool with a twelve-member outcome.
• Adds a new exemption process for persons aged 70 and older to be excused from jury service, to be removed from the master list of potential jurors, and to be reinstated upon request.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Juries and Jurors