MaineMaine courts draw prospective jurors from public lists
Starting January 1, 2028, Maine courts use several public lists and names people ask a county clerk to add when finding prospective jurors.
What it does
Maine courts use lists of drivers, voters, state ID holders, and people receiving unemployment benefits to find prospective jurors. People may also ask their county court clerk to add them to the source list.
Argument forDrawing names from several public lists and from people who ask to join could give courts more people to consider for jury service.
Argument againstLetting people add themselves could make jury pools less representative if those who volunteer differ from other residents.
More detail
The listed records and names of people who ask the county court clerk to add them must serve as sources for prospective jurors. The lists include licensed drivers, people with state identification cards, registered voters, and people receiving state unemployment benefits. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court may specify other lists that can supplement these sources. This law takes effect January 1, 2028.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 15Signed by Governor Janet MillsLatest
- Apr 13Subsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence.Major
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table.
- Feb 26On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence.
- Feb 24Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Feb 24PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Major
- Feb 12Ordered sent down forthwith.
- Vote recorded COMMIT. Result: fail.Upper
- Feb 12Subsequently, the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-159) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-798) thereto.Minor
- Feb 12Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 713 Yeas 13 - Nays 19 - Excused 3 - Absent 0
- Feb 12Motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook to COMMIT Bill and accompanying papers to the Committee on Judiciary FAILED
- Feb 12Senator PIERCE of Cumberland moved to RECEDE and CONCUR to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED.Minor
- Feb 10ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Feb 10In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.
- Feb 10Subsequently, the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-159) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-798) thereto.Minor
- Feb 10Committee Amendment "A" (H-159) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-798) thereto was ADOPTED.Minor
- Feb 10On motion of Representative LEE of Auburn, House Amendment "A" (H-798) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-159) was READ and ADOPTED.
- Feb 10On further motion of the same Representative, under further SUSPENSION of the rules, the House RECONSIDERED ADOPTION of Committee Amendment "A" (H-159).
- Feb 10On further motion of the same Representative, under further SUSPENSION of the rules, the House RECONSIDERED its action whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-159).Minor
- Feb 10Subsequently, on motion of Representative LEE of Auburn, under SUSPENSION of the rules, the House RECONSIDERED its action whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Major
- Feb 10Speaker laid before the House
- Jan 13Later today assigned.
- Jan 13On motion of Representative MOONEN of Portland, TABLED pending FURTHER ACTION.
- Jan 13Bill RECALLED From Governor (Pursuant to Joint Order - House Paper 1391)
- 2025
- Jul 8HELD BY THE GOVERNOR.
- Jun 25PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Jun 25On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table
- May 27On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence.
- May 27Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- May 27PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- May 21Ordered sent down forthwith.
- May 21Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-159), in concurrence.Minor
- May 21Committee Amendment "A" (H-159) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Minor
- May 21READ ONCE.Minor
- May 21Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.
- May 20Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- May 20The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-159).Minor
- May 20Under suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.
- May 20CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAY
- May 15Reported Out - OTP-AM
- May 6Voted - OTP-AM
- May 6Work Session Reconsidered
- Mar 21Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.
- Mar 5Voted - OTP-AM
- Mar 5Work Session Held
- Jan 30The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.Minor
- Jan 30Received by the Clerk of the House on January 30, 2025.Introduced
Government & Ethics