Bill: SB 46, 85(R) - 2017

Committee

Senate State Affairs

2nd Chamber Committee

House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Yes Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Positive

Author(s)

Judith Zaffirini

Sponsor(s)

Yvonne Davis

Bill Caption

Relating to allowing judges to use juror identification numbers when polling the jury.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

Currently the State or the defendant has the right to poll the jury by calling out each jurors name and asking their verdict. 

SB 46 would maintain this right but in place of calling out jurors by name it would allow the judge to assign each juror an identification number in place of their name.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill has a small, but important impact on our liberty principles. Allowing the jurors to be identified in the record by a number rather than a name can help protect the individual’s privacy and possibly even prevent them from being subject to harassment by people unhappy with their vote. This bill advances our principle of individual liberty, therefore we support SB 46.

Source URL (retrieved on 04/24/2024 09:04 PM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/85r/sb46?print_view=true