Printable Format43-155. Jury service; declaration of public policy. The public policy of this state is declared to be that jury service is the solemn obligation of all qualified citizens, and that excuses from the discharge of this responsibility should be granted by the judges of the courts of this state only for reasons of compelling personal hardship or because requiring service would be contrary to the public welfare, health or safety; that all litigants entitled to trial by jury shall have the right to juries selected at random from a fair cross section of the community in the district wherein the court convenes; and that all citizens shall have the opportunity to be considered for service on juries in the district courts of Kansas.
History: L. 1971, ch. 176, ยง 1; July 1.
Law Review and Bar Journal References:
"Improving the Jury System in Kansas: A Call for Jury Patriotism Legislation," Mark A. Behrens and Edward O. Gramling, XIII Kan. J.L. & Pub. Pol'y, No. II, 1, 10 (2004).
CASE ANNOTATIONS
1. Method used in selection of jurors conformed to statutory requirements and did not violate defendant's constitutional rights. State v. Campbell, 217 Kan. 756, 762, 763, 539 P.2d 329.
2. Panels of jurors to serve in district courts are drawn from entire county, not specific city. State v. Holt, 228 Kan. 16, 19, 612 P.2d 570.
3. Statutes relative to jury panels not violative of constitutional right to jury representing fair cross-section of community. State v. Baker, 249 Kan. 431, 436, 819 P.2d 1173 (1991).
4. Granting of excuses by clerk in violation of statute, but no showing of an arbitrary selection or exclusion of members of a particular class. State v. Smith, 16 Kan. App. 2d 478, 487, 825 P.2d 541 (1992).
5. Use of voter registration lists as sole source for jury panels as neither statutorily or constitutionally impermissible discussed. State v. Bailey, 251 Kan. 156, 160, 834 P.2d 342 (1992).