Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Jury Service Exemption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee hears bill letting Montanans 75 and older request jury excusal
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 137, which would allow people age 75 and older to be excused from jury service on request; proponents cited travel burdens in rural counties and administrative simplification for clerks.
Senate Bill 137, sponsored in committee by Senator Jeremy Trebis, would allow people age 75 or older to be excused from jury service on request rather than require medical documentation or a judge's approval.
Supporters told the House Judiciary Committee that the change is intended to reduce hardship, especially in rural counties where travel to a courthouse can be lengthy. "On the request of a person who is 75 years of age or older, the court or the jury commissioner shall excuse the person from jury service," Trebis said while opening the hearing. Proponents emphasized the excuse remains voluntary — registrants may still serve if they choose.
A rural legislator, Senator Russ Temple, said constituents in his district face long drives to courthouses: "From where I live, it's 30 miles to Great Falls to serve, to Havre... it's 75 miles," he said, urging support. A witness who identified herself as age 79 described receiving federal notices that allowed a 75-and-older request for excusal and noted that many federal courts and other states already permit age-based requests.
Lisa Kallio, clerk of district court for Lewis and Clark County, testified for the Montana Association of Clerks of District Court and urged passage to simplify the process for older Montanans. Kallio said the current statute requires a doctor's letter and judge review for permanent excusal, which many older people do not want to pursue. "The bill would allow jury commissioner, who is the clerk of district court, to excuse jurors who request it without bothering a doctor or a judge," she said.
Committee members asked for data about how many summoned jurors are aged 75 and older; Kallio said she did not have that information at the hearing but agreed to provide it to the committee. Questions also touched on whether a change would shift jury service toward younger cohorts; proponents said the bill preserves the option to serve and does not create an automatic exclusion.
The committee held the hearing and took testimony from supporters; no committee vote was recorded during the session.
