This bill seeks to amend the Code of West Virginia concerning jury service, particularly focusing on the jury selection process and the roles of public officials involved. It clarifies the state's policy on jury service, defines key terms such as "administrative director," and establishes responsibilities for maintaining master and county juror lists. Notably, the bill mandates that these lists be publicly accessible and outlines the procedures for juror selection, including the removal of alternate electronic selection methods and the introduction of specific qualifications for jurors in the event of shortages. Significant insertions include the requirement for the administrative director or their designee to assist clerks in compiling the master list and the specification that both the county list and freeholder list must be open for public inspection.

Additionally, the bill updates the procedures for selecting petit and grand juries, requiring clerks to draw jurors based on the latest administrative orders from the Supreme Court of Appeals, rather than relying on rules from the chief judge. It allows courts to summon additional jurors from the jury wheel in case of shortages and introduces provisions for using qualified jurors as replacements. The bill also removes references to the "jury box," emphasizes the use of the "jury wheel," and mandates clerks to report demographic information about jurors to the Supreme Court of Appeals annually. These amendments aim to streamline the jury selection process and ensure adherence to current legal standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 52-1-1, 52-1-3, 52-1-5, 52-1-5a, 52-1-6, 52-1-7, 52-1-8, 52-1-9, 52-1-15, 52-1-16, 52-1-22, 52-2-3, 52-1-7a, 52-1-25