Prospective jurors for criminal trials: peremptory challenges: elimination.

The Trial Jury Selection and Management Act generally authorizes a party in a criminal or civil case to challenge a prospective juror from becoming a trial juror, either by objecting to the prospective juror for cause, on the basis of a general disqualification or implied or actual bias, or through the use of a limited number of peremptory challenges. Under the act, in criminal cases, if the offense charged is punishable with death, or with imprisonment in the state prison for life, the defendant and the state are each entitled to 20 peremptory challenges. If the offense charged is punishable with a maximum term of imprisonment of 90 days or less, the defendant and the state are each entitled to 6 peremptory challenges, with a modification of that amount if 2 or more defendants are jointly tried. In a criminal trial for any other offense, the defendant and the state are each entitled to 10 peremptory challenges, with a modification of that amount if 2 or more defendants are jointly tried. The act requires the court to exclude any juror challenged peremptorily. Beginning on January 1, 2022, in a criminal case, the act authorizes a party or the trial court to object to the improper use of a peremptory challenge, as specified, and further authorizes those objections in civil cases beginning on January 1, 2026. This bill would eliminate peremptory challenges to prospective jurors in criminal cases. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions, including, among others, repealing the authorization to object to the improper use of a peremptory challenge in a criminal case beginning on January 1, 2022. The bill also would make technical changes.