The bill amends the jury selection process in Arkansas by changing the criteria for qualified jurors. It specifies that every licensed driver, registered voter, or person issued an identification card who is a U.S. citizen, at least eighteen years old, and a resident of the state and county where they may be summoned for jury service is legally qualified to serve as a juror. The bill also updates the method of selecting prospective jurors, replacing the previous reliance on registered voters with a focus on licensed drivers, thereby expanding the pool of potential jurors.

Additionally, the bill allows for the use of computerized systems for random selection of jurors from the list of licensed drivers and establishes that the master list of jurors will not be publicly accessible. It also mandates that the Secretary of State receive updated lists of licensed drivers, registered voters, and identification card holders from the Department of Finance and Administration. Overall, the changes aim to modernize the jury selection process and ensure a more diverse and representative jury pool.

Statutes affected:
HB 1367: 16-31-101, 27-16-805, 16-32-103, 16-32-302, 16-32-104(b), 16-32-108(2), 16-32-109(a), 16-32-201(a), 16-32-301, 16-31-102, 16-32-302(b), 16-32-303(a)