40.225 Drawing jury venire; alternative method. - Florida Statutes

40.225 Drawing jury venire; alternative method.

   (1) Whenever a majority of the judges authorized to conduct jury trials in a county consents, the names of prospective jurors and other data pertinent thereto may be fed into a mechanical, electronic, or electrical device and drawn therefrom as an alternative to other methods authorized by law for obtaining jury venires, if such drawing is by lot and at random and is approved by the Supreme Court as hereinafter provided.

   (2) When a majority of the trial judges authorizes the alternative method of drawing a jury venire as provided in subsection (1), the chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the county is located shall make a certificate to that effect and transmit the same to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, together with a description of the equipment, methods, and mode of operation to be used.

   (3) The Chief Justice shall cause the certificate and data accompanying it to be presented to the justices of the Supreme Court. If the court finds that the proposed method will produce venires selected by lot and at random, is in compliance with all constitutional requirements of jury selection, and is otherwise feasible and practicable, an order of approval of same shall be made and filed. Thereafter, the alternative method so approved may be used in the county so authorized.

   (4) The chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the county is located shall supervise the use of such alternative method whenever approval of same has been made by order of the Supreme Court.

   (5) Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring uniform equipment or methods throughout the state.

History. s. 1, ch. 71-52; s. 6, ch. 79-235.

Note. Former s. 40.371.