SRC-JLB C.S.S.B. 1011 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1011
78R14151 GWK-DBy: West
Jurisprudence
5/1/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

C.S.S.B. 1011 provides that the attorney representing the state and the
attorney representing the defendant are entitled to conduct a meaningful
voir dire examination but does not restrict a judge's authority to limit
the duration of a voir dire examination to a reasonable period. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 35.17, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
Sections 3 and 4, as follows: 

Section 3.  Provides that the attorney representing the state and the
attorney representing the defendant are entitled to conduct a meaningful
voir dire examination.  Provides that a question asked during the voir
dire examination is proper if the question attempts to discover the views
of a prospective juror on an issue that is applicable to the case.
Provides that a question asked during the voir dire examination is not
proper if the question attempts to commit a prospective juror to reaching
a verdict based on particular facts.  Authorizes a judge, on proper
objection, to restrict counsel from engaging in questioning that is overly
broad or vague. 

Section 4.  Provides that this article is not intended to restrict a
judge's authority to limit the duration of a voir dire examination to a
reasonable period. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.