SB197 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Juries, Legislature authorized to establish size of jury panels

Summary

The bill would allow six-person juries for misdemeanor criminal cases and certain civil cases, but only after a constitutional amendment authorizes it.

What This Bill Does

In misdemeanor criminal cases, if the defendant requests a jury trial, the jury would be six people instead of twelve. In civil cases where a jury is required and the case could be appealed to the Court of Civil Appeals, the jury would be six people. The changes would take effect only after ratification of a constitutional amendment that lets the Legislature set jury sizes by general law.

Who It Affects

• Defendants charged with misdemeanor crimes who request a jury trial would have smaller, six-person juries.
• Civil cases that could be appealed to the Court of Civil Appeals would use six-person juries.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: In all criminal cases involving only misdemeanor charges in which the defendant requests a trial by jury, the size of the jury shall be six persons.
• Section 2: In civil cases in which there is a right to trial by jury, the size of the jury shall be six persons in all cases in which an appeal would be to the Court of Civil Appeals.
• Section 3: This act shall become effective immediately following ratification of a constitutional amendment authorizing the Legislature to set the size of juries by general law.

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