A proposal to trim the number of jurors from twelve to six in civil trials in Illinois circuit courts passed the Illinois House of Representatives on December 2, 2014. Senate Bill 3075 would cut by half the size of civil juries while boosting juror pay to $25 for the first day of service and $50 per day thereafter. The measure now moves to the Illinois Senate for debate. If the bill passes the Senate, it would move on to Governor Quinn for consideration.
Supporters of the bill point out that the federal courts and a majority of state courts already use civil juries of this size. Additionally, advocates of the measure state that reducing the number of jurors in civil cases would mean less citizens being called for jury duty, thereby disrupting fewer families and businesses. The change would also shorten the voir dire process in trials, during which attorneys and the court question jurors to ensure those selected for jury service can be fair and impartial.
Should you have questions about your right to a civil jury trial, call one of the injury lawyers at Shapiro, Cohen and Basinger, Ltd. today for a free consultation.