CA AB 1899

Title: Courts.
Author: Sabrina Cervantes

Summary
AB 1899, as amended, Cervantes. Courts. (1) Existing law includes maxims of jurisprudence in civil law.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to some of these provisions.(2) Existing law requires that, if a jury commissioner requires a person to complete a questionnaire, the questionnaire must ask only questions related to juror identification, qualification, and ability to serve as a prospective juror. Existing law authorizes a court or trial judge to require a prospective juror to complete such additional questionnaires as may be deemed relevant and necessary for assisting in the voir dire process or to ascertain whether a fair cross section of the population is represented as required by law, or as proposed by counsel in a particular care to assist the voir dire process.This bill would require that, if a jury commissioner requires a person to complete a questionnaire, the questionnaire must ask certain questions regarding their identity, including their pronouns. The bill would prohibit the questionnaire from providing prospective jurors with the option to select gendered salutations or titles. The bill would require the Judicial Council to create a template questionnaire to be published on its internet website for use in qualifying prospective jurors and management of the jury system that is inclusive of these requirements. The bill would require that, if the court or trial judge requires a prospective juror to complete additional questionnaires for purposes of the voir dire process, the questionnaire must comply with the above provisions and, if questions regarding family or personal relationships, as specified, are asked, require all questions to be phrased in a gender-neutral manner.

Status
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Bill Documents
CA AB 1899 - 04/01/24 - Amended Assembly
04/01/24 - CA AB 1899 (04/01/24 - Amended Assembly)