Bill 55

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               55
Ratification Number:       3
Act Number:                1
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Preparation of the jury box

(A1, R3, S55)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-170, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SPECIAL PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO THE PREPARATION OF THE JURY BOX IN COUNTIES CONTAINING A CITY OF MORE THAN SEVENTY THOUSAND PERSONS, AND TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-630, RELATING TO THE GENERAL PREPARATION OF THE JURY BOX, SO AS TO REVISE PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO THE REQUIRED UNIFORMITY OF JURY CAPSULES OR CONTAINERS AND OTHER MATERIAL USED FOR JURY SELECTION.

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

Jury boxes

SECTION 1. Section 14-7-170 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 14-7-170. In each county in this State containing a city having more than seventy thousand population, according to the official United States census, all of these papers must be white and plain and shall resemble each other as much as possible. The capsules or containers must be small, opaque, and as similar in size, shape, and color as possible at the time of original purchase or the repurchase of additional capsules. The containers must be placed, with the list, in a strong and substantial box, without apertures or openings when closed (to be known as the 'jury box') which box and containers must be furnished to the jury commissioners by the county supervisor of their county for that purpose and must be approved by the resident judge of the circuit in which the county lies.

In these counties the jury commissioners may procure and use as the jury box a drum as required in Section 14-7-260 which complies with the requirements of this section as to the jury box in these counties."

Further

SECTION 2. Section 14-7-630 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 14-7-630. The jury box of a county adopting the procedures set out in this article shall contain the same number of capsules or containers as there are names on the jury list prepared by the jury commissioners from the latest official list furnished to the county by the State Election Commission. The capsules or containers must be small, opaque and as similar in size, shape, and color as possible at the time of original purchase or the repurchase of additional capsules. By a slip of paper placed therein, each capsule or container must be numbered, beginning with number 'one' and continuing consecutively through the number of qualified electors on the jury list prepared by the jury commissioners as hereinafter provided.

All of these papers must be of similar kind, color, and weight so as to resemble each other as much as possible without distinguishing marks. The capsules or containers so prepared must be placed in the jury box constructed as required by law."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.