Juror Selection and Qualification

(A) Qualifications. A prospective juror is qualified to serve on a jury if the prospective juror is generally reputed to be honest and intelligent and is esteemed in the community for integrity, good character, and sound judgment and also: (1) Is a citizen of the United States, has been a resident of the county for more than 12 months, and is 19 years old or older; (2) Is able to read, speak, understand, and follow instructions given by a judge in the English language; (3) Is capable by reason of physical and mental ability to render satisfactory jury service and is not afflicted with any permanent disease or physical weakness whereby the prospective juror is unfit to discharge the duties of a juror; (4) Has not lost the right to vote by conviction for any offense involving moral turpitude; (5) Does not display any signs and symptoms associated with diseases known to be transmitted through respiration; and (6) Meets any other requirement for qualification that is required by law. Electronic Verification. In the discretion of the presiding circuit-court judge, a juror (B) summons issued may include instructions for a prospective juror to, if possible, electronically verify his or her qualifications to serve on a jury through an Internet-based data-processing program maintained by the Administrative Office of Courts ("AOC"). Each prospective juror completing such an electronic verification shall declare, to the best of his or her ability, that he or she meets the qualifications to serve on a jury listed in subsection (A). (C) Administration of the Oath. Upon the completion of an electronic verification of his or her qualifications to serve on a jury, each prospective juror shall be required to affirm or disaffirm the following oath, provided on the Internet-based data-processing program maintained by AOC: "Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that you have well and truly answered all questions propounded to you touching on your qualifications as a juror, so help you God?" Receipt and acceptance of a prospective juror's affirmation of the oath through the AOC data-processing program by the clerk of court or the judge shall be deemed an acknowledgment of the prospective juror's affirmation of the oath. (D) Disqualification. If a prospective juror completing an electronic verification does not meet the qualifications for serving as a juror or disaffirms the oath prescribed in subsection (C), the clerk or the court shall notify the prospective juror that he or she is not qualified to serve on a jury and/or inform the prospective juror that his or her service is not required. (E) Other Methods of Verification of Qualifications. If a prospective juror is unable or elects not to electronically verify the qualifications set out in subsection (A) and electronically affirm the oath prescribed in subsection (C), ascertaining the prospective juror's qualifications to serve on a jury and administering the oath to the prospective juror may be effected as otherwise provided by law. [Adopted eff. July 15, 2020.] Committee Comments to Rule 46 Effective July 15, 2020