The Trial Jury Selection and Management Act, until January 1, 2021, authorizes a criminal defendant and the state to each exercise 6 peremptory challenges during jury selection, if the offense charged is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less, or 10 peremptory challenges each, if the offense charged is punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, but not by imprisonment for life or by death, except as provided for defendants who are jointly tried. After January 1, 2021, the act authorizes a criminal defendant and the state to each exercise 6 peremptory challenges during jury selection, if the offense charged is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 90 days or less, or 10 peremptory challenges each, if the offense charged is punishable by more than 90 days of imprisonment, but not by imprisonment for life or by death, except as provided for defendants who are jointly tried.
This bill would repeal the provisions operative beginning on January 1, 2021, and make indefinitely operative the existing provisions that provide 6 peremptory challenges if the offense charged is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less, except as provided for defendants who are jointly tried.