1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the summoning of potential grand jurors.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Article 19.01, Code of Criminal
1-5 Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
1-6 (b) In lieu of the selection of prospective jurors by means
1-7 of a jury commission, the district judge may direct that 20 to 125
1-8 [75] prospective grand jurors be selected and summoned, with return
1-9 on summons, in the same manner as for the selection and summons of
1-10 panels for the trial of civil cases in the district courts. The
1-11 judge shall try the qualifications for and excuses from service as
1-12 a grand juror and impanel the completed grand jury in the same
1-13 manner as provided for grand jurors selected by a jury commission.
1-14 SECTION 2. Articles 19.06 and 19.17, Code of Criminal
1-15 Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
1-16 Art. 19.06. SHALL SELECT GRAND JURORS. The jury
1-17 commissioners shall select not less than 15 nor more than 40 [20]
1-18 persons from the citizens of the county to be summoned as grand
1-19 jurors for the next term of court, or the term of court for which
1-20 said commissioners were selected to serve, as directed in the order
1-21 of the court selecting the commissioners. The commissioners shall,
1-22 to the extent possible, select grand jurors who the commissioners
1-23 determine represent a broad cross-section of the population of the
1-24 county, considering the factors of race, sex, and age.
1-25 Art. 19.17. FAILURE TO SELECT. If for any reason a grand
2-1 jury shall not be selected or summoned prior to the commencement of
2-2 any term of court, or when none of those summoned shall attend, the
2-3 district judge may at any time after the commencement of the term,
2-4 in his discretion, direct a writ to be issued to the sheriff
2-5 commanding him to summon a jury commission, selected by the court,
2-6 which commission shall select not more than 40 [twenty] persons, as
2-7 provided by law, who shall serve as grand jurors.
2-8 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 203 passed the Senate on
February 19, 2001, by a viva-voce vote; and that the Senate
concurred in House amendments on May 14, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 203 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 5, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor