HB 616-FN (1998): relative to jury selection reforms.

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@misc{bill-1998-hb616, title = {HB 616-FN (1998): relative to jury selection reforms.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/1998/hb616}, note = {Accessed 24 Oct. 2026} }

HB 616-FN (1998)

relative to jury selection reforms.

  • Status: Signed into law
  • Term: 1997-1998
  • House committee: Judiciary and Family Law
  • Senate committee: Judiciary
  • Subject: Courts and Procedure
  • Chapter law: 237

The Story

On January 29, 1997 the House adopted “Suspend Rules for intro on legis signed off after 01/17/1997”, on a motion by Rep. Wheeler & Burling. It was introduced on January 29, 1997 and referred to the House Judiciary and Family Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 25, 1997. The majority of the committee recommended that the House pass it with changes unanimously, 18–0, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On March 12, 1997 the House voted to pass it with changes, then referred it on to the House Finance committee. The committee held a work session on March 17, 1997. The majority of the committee recommended that the House kill it unanimously, 23–0, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The bill was taken off the consent calendar on April 2, 1997. On April 2, 1997 the bill was referred to the Judiciary and Family Law committee. The committee held work sessions on May 15, 1997, May 21, 1997, June 11, 1997, September 10, 1997 and September 30, 1997. The majority of the committee recommended that the House pass it with changes unanimously, 14–0, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On January 7, 1998 the House voted to pass it with changes as part of its consent calendar, which it adopted on a roll call 248–8, then referred it on to the House Finance committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 12, 1998. The majority of the committee recommended that the House pass it with changes by a vote of 15–4. On January 29, 1998 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. It crossed to the Senate on January 29, 1998 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 25, 1998. The committee voted unanimously, 6–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it. On April 9, 1998 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote, then referred it on to the Senate Finance committee. The committee voted unanimously, 6–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it. On June 10, 1998 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote. An enrolled bill amendment () was adopted on June 10, 1998. These correct technical errors found after passage. The bill was enrolled on June 18, 1998 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2170) was adopted to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on June 25, 1998, making it Chapter 237 of the session laws. It took effect on January 1, 1999.

Sponsors

  • Rep. Mittelman (Hills 37) (prime sponsor)
  • Rep. Knowles (Straf 11)

Hearings and Sessions

  • February 25, 1997, 3:00 PM: hearing, RM208,LOB :JUDICIARY & FL
  • March 17, 1997, 1:15 PM: subcommittee work session, House Finance, RM212,LOB
  • May 15, 1997, 2:30 PM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary and Family Law, RM208,LOB
  • May 21, 1997, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary and Family Law, RM208,LOB
  • June 11, 1997, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary and Family Law, RM208,LOB
  • September 10, 1997, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary and Family Law, RM208,LOB
  • September 30, 1997, 9:00 AM: subcommittee work session, RM208,LOB (REP CLAY)
  • January 12, 1998, 10:30 AM: hearing, House Finance, RMS210-211,LOB
  • March 25, 1998, 10:45 AM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, RM103,ST HOUSE

Votes

  • January 29, 1998, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — voice vote, passed
  • April 9, 1998, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed
  • June 10, 1998, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed

The Docket

  • January 29, 1997: REPS WHEELER & BURLING SUSP RULES FOR INTRO ON LEGIS SIGNED OFF AFTER JAN 17, MA 2/3VV; HJ17,P275
  • January 29, 1997: INTRODUCED AND REF TO JUDICIARY & F L; HJ17,P276
  • January 31, 1997: COPY TO CHAIRMAN ON 01/30/97 DUE ON 03/05/97
  • February 25, 1997: HEARING FEB25 3:00 RM208,LOB :JUDICIARY & FL
  • March 4, 1997: MAJ REPORT OTP/AM FOR MAR12 (VOTE 18-0;CC)
  • March 4, 1997: PROP COMM AM<0517>; HC32,P744
  • March 12, 1997: PASSED WITH AM AND REF TO FINANCE; HJ38,P1012
  • March 17, 1997: SUBCOM WORK & EXEC SESS MAR17 01:15 RM212,LOB FOR: FIN DIV I
  • March 26, 1997: FIN MAJ REPORT ITL FOR APR02 (VOTE 23-0;CC)
  • April 2, 1997: REMOVED FROM CONSENT CAL, REQ REP KURK; HJ47,P1428
  • April 2, 1997: ITL ML VV; RE-REFERRED TO JUDICIARY & F L, REP KURK MA VV; HJ47, P1449
  • May 15, 1997: RE-REF SUBCOM WORK SESSION MAY15 2:30 RM208,LOB FOR: JUD
  • May 21, 1997: RE-REF SUBCOM WK SESS MAY21 10:00 RM208,LOB FOR: JUD
  • June 11, 1997: RE-REF SUBCOM WK SESS JUN11 10:00 RM208,LOB FOR: JUD
  • September 10, 1997: RE-REF SUBCOM WORK SESSION SEP10 10:00 RM208,LOB FOR: JUD
  • September 30, 1997: RE-REF SUBCOM WORK SESS SEP30 9:00 RM208,LOB (REP CLAY)
  • October 8, 1997: RE-REF MAJ REPORT OTP/AM FOR 1998 SESSION (VOTE 14-0;CC)
  • October 8, 1997: PROP RE-REF MAJ AM<0065>; HC98,P2459-2460
  • January 7, 1998: PASSED WITH AM AND REF TO FINANCE/CONSENT CAL RC(248-8); HJ3, P166
  • January 12, 1998: HEARING JAN12 10:30 RMS210-211,LOB FOR: FINANCE
  • January 20, 1998: FIN MAJ REPORT OTP/AM FOR JAN29 (VOTE 15-4)
  • January 20, 1998: PROP FIN COMM AM<0359>; HC7,P348
  • January 29, 1998: FIN COMM AM, AA VV; PASSED WITH AM VV; HJ10,P445 + 456
  • January 29, 1998: INTRODUCED AND REF TO JUDICIARY; SJ2,P44
  • March 25, 1998: HEARING MAR25 10:45 RM103,ST HOUSE FOR: JUD
  • April 6, 1998: COMM REPORT OTP APR09 (VOTE 6-0)
  • April 9, 1998: PASSED AND REF TO FINANCE VV; SJ10,P257
  • June 9, 1998: FIN COMM REPORT OTP JUN10 (VOTE 6-0)
  • June 10, 1998: PASSED VV; SJ19,P552 + 604
  • June 10, 1998: ENROLLED AM, AM ADOPTED 2/3; HJ60,P2199
  • June 10, 1998: ENROLLED AM<2170>, AM ADOPTED; SJ19,P620-621
  • June 18, 1998: ENROLLED; HJ60,P2230
  • June 18, 1998: ENROLLED; SJ20,P688
  • June 25, 1998: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 06/25/98 EFF: 01/01/99 CHAP.0237

Laws It Would Change

From the General Court