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HR0214 |
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LRB094 11662 CSA 43147 r |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The candid participation of jurors in the jury |
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| selection process is vital to the administration of the civil |
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| and criminal justice systems in the State of Illinois; and
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| WHEREAS, Jurors often suffer personal and economic |
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| hardships due to their service on a jury; and
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| WHEREAS, Venire persons have a legitimate expectation of |
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| privacy in personal information about themselves; and
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| WHEREAS, A potential juror's history of crime |
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| victimization or arrest by the police can unfairly embarrass |
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| that person if such information is disclosed to the public at |
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| large or the press; and
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| WHEREAS, Juror citizens have complained to their elected |
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| representatives that a few trial court judges and attorneys in |
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| this State have asked embarrassing questions about such |
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| personal information in open court; and
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| WHEREAS, After such disclosures, further inquiries by |
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| neighbors or the press sometime occur; and
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| WHEREAS, The best practices among trial court judges is to |
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| advise the venire in open court that if an answer to questions |
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| put to them by court or counsel is unduly embarrassing, they |
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| can request to be heard "in chambers" (outside open court) with |
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| the parties and counsel present; and
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| WHEREAS, The Illinois Constitution vests in the Illinois |
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| Supreme Court supervisory authority over all judges in the |
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| State of Illinois; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |