South Carolina General Assembly
105th Session, 1983-1984

Bill 205

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               205
Ratification Number:       555
Act Number:                466
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Relating to persons not qualified to
                           serve as jurors
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A466, R555, S205)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-810, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PERSONS NOT QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS JURORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT LEGAL BLINDNESS DOES NOT DISQUALIFY AN OTHERWISE QUALIFIED JUROR AND PROVIDE THAT ANY PROSPECTIVE JUROR MAY BE PUNISHED FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT IF HE BELIEVES THAT HE IS DISQUALIFIED AND FAILS TO REPORT IT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Persons not qualified to serve as jurors

SECTION 1. Section 14-7-810 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 14-7-810. In addition to any other provision of law, no person is qualified to serve as a juror in any court in this State if:

(1) He has been convicted in a state or federal court of record of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and his civil rights have not been restored by pardon or amnesty.

(2) He is unable to read, write, speak, or understand the English language.

(3) He is incapable by reason of mental or physical infirmities to render efficient jury service. Legal blindness does not disqualify an otherwise qualified juror.

(4) He has less than a sixth grade education or its equivalent.

Any person called to jury service who knows or has good reason to suspect that he is disqualified under this section, upon questioning by the trial judge, hearing officer, or clerk of court, must state the disqualifying facts or the reasons for his suspicions and any failure to do so is punishable as contempt of court. The trial judge must make the final determination of the qualifications of a juror as set out in this section and his decision must not be disturbed on appeal."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.