On Friday, December 19, Governor Pat Quinn signed SB 3075 into law. The law amends the Code and the Code of Civil Procedure regarding jury service in Illinois. Specifically, the bill does the following:
- Cuts the number of jurors in civil cases from 12 to 6. The amendment also requires the parties to pay for alternate jurors.
- Increases the minimum payment for jury service to $25 for the first day and $50 for subsequent days.
- Mirrors federal law and that of many states by reducing the size of civil juries from 12 to 6 in Illinois. The requirement of unanimous decision is unchanged.
SB 3075 was sponsored in the Senate by Senator John Mulroe. Representative Kelly Burke sponsored the bill in the House. The effective date for both bills is June 1, 2015.
If you or a loved one have been injured, call Shapiro, Cohen and Basinger, Ltd. to discuss your right to a civil jury trial.