SB64 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to jury service; to amend Sections 12-16-62 and 12-16-63, Code of Alabama 1975; to allow individuals 75 years of age or older to be excused from jury service and to request a permanent exemption from jury service.

Summary

SB64 would let people aged 75 and older be permanently exempted from jury service upon request, and requires courts to remove them from the jury pool.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds a pathway for individuals 75 or older to be permanently exempt from jury service by submitting a written request, and the court must remove them from the master jury list. It also keeps existing grounds for excusal (such as undue or extreme hardship, mental or physical incapacity, or public necessity) and allows excusal for up to 24 months when appropriate. It includes documentation requirements for hardship and maintains the automatic postponement option for jurors.

Who It Affects

• Individuals 75 years of age or older, who can be permanently exempt from jury service by submitting a written request and having the court remove them from the master jury list.
• Courts and jury administration personnel, who must process these requests, remove eligible individuals from the master list, and continue administering other excusal standards and procedures.

Key Provisions

• Allows individuals 75 years of age or older to submit a written request to be permanently exempt from jury service; upon receipt, the court must remove the prospective juror from the master jury list.
• The court may excuse a prospective juror based on 75+ age, hardship, disability, or public necessity, determined from interviews or other competent evidence.
• An individual may be excused for up to 24 months, after which they may be directed to reappear for jury service.
• Hardship exemptions require documentation and may cover caregiving burdens, costs, or illness; the hardship standard requires action to obtain a ruling by the date scheduled for jury duty.
• Excusal under these provisions does not affect the juror's right to one automatic postponement under section 12-16-63.1.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Jury service, individual 70 years of age or older may be permanently excused from service