HB 26-1288

HB 26-1288, a Colorado bill that has been signed into law, sets new rules for how juries are selected. It requires more time for judges and lawyers to ask potential jurors questions before they're chosen for a trial, with specific times based on whether the case is civil or criminal, and if criminal, depending on the severity of the charges. The bill also creates a working group within the judicial department to study jury selection processes and recommend improvements by 2026. This affects anyone involved in court cases, including judges, lawyers, and potential jurors. Since it has been signed into law, these new rules will now be implemented in Colorado's legal system.

Official Summary

The bill establishes certain requirements for jury questionnaires that are completed prior to conducting voir dire.      The bill requires a minimum amount of time for each party to conduct voir dire. The bill establishes the lengths of required time for civil cases and criminal cases, with the lengths of required time for criminal cases depending upon whether the most serious charge is a petty offense or municipal violation, misdemeanor, or felony.      The bill permits the court to authorize more time for each party to conduct voir dire than is required, subject to certain requirements.      The bill creates a jury selection working group (working group) in the judicial department.     The bill details the working group's membership and duties and requires the working group to submit to the judiciary committees of the house of representatives and the senate, and to each supreme court justice, the following:      A progress report by December 1, 2026; and A final report, by a date determined by the working group's chairs, concerning best practices related to jury selection and to considering recommendations for statutory or rule changes to improve jury selection .(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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