(a) A person is qualified to serve as a juror if the person is: (1) A citizen of the United States; (2) A resident of Rhode Island who either: (i) Resides in the county where the person is registered to vote; or (ii) Is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within this state; or (iii) Possesses a Rhode Island identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 3-8-6 and 3-8-6.1; or (iv) Is an individual filing a state income tax return; or (v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation; (3) At least 18 years of age; (4) Able to understand and participate in the court proceedings; and (5) Physically and mentally capable of performing in a reasonable manner the duties of a juror. (b) No person shall be allowed to serve as a juror if he or she has been lawfully adjudicated to be non compos mentis, or is serving a sentence of confinement at a correctional facility as a consequence of a felony conviction. (c) [Deleted by P.L. 2023, ch. 367, § 1 and P.L. 2023, ch. 368, § 1.] (d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(4) and (5), a person with a disability shall not be ineligible to serve as a juror solely on the basis of the person’s disability, and if that person meets the above requirements, with reasonable accommodations if necessary, the person shall be deemed a qualified juror. (e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from disqualifying a prospective juror because the prospective juror lacks a faculty or has a disability which will prevent the potential juror from being a competent juror in a particular case. (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a party’s right to preemptorially challenge jurors.
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