HR0214 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0214 LRB094 11662 CSA 43147 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The candid participation of jurors in the jury selection process is vital to the administration of the civil and criminal justice systems in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Jurors often suffer personal and economic hardships due to their service on a jury; and

WHEREAS, Venire persons have a legitimate expectation of privacy in personal information about themselves; and

WHEREAS, A potential juror's history of crime victimization or arrest by the police can unfairly embarrass that person if such information is disclosed to the public at large or the press; and

WHEREAS, Juror citizens have complained to their elected representatives that a few trial court judges and attorneys in this State have asked embarrassing questions about such personal information in open court; and

WHEREAS, After such disclosures, further inquiries by neighbors or the press sometime occur; and

WHEREAS, The best practices among trial court judges is to advise the venire in open court that if an answer to questions put to them by court or counsel is unduly embarrassing, they can request to be heard "in chambers" (outside open court) with the parties and counsel present; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Constitution vests in the Illinois Supreme Court supervisory authority over all judges in the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we respectfully urge the Illinois Supreme Court to adopt by rule or provide further judicial training on the best practices for voir dire; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution by delivered to the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court for due consideration.