Bill > SB645

This bill extends and modifies existing California law regarding peremptory challenges in jury selection, which are the opportunities attorneys have to dismiss potential jurors without providing a specific reason. The legislation permanently prohibits using peremptory challenges to remove jurors based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or religious affiliation, and establishes a detailed framework for challenging potentially discriminatory jury selection practices. Specifically, the bill requires attorneys to provide reasons for their peremptory challenges if objected to, and allows courts to evaluate these reasons using a comprehensive set of criteria that considers both purposeful and unconscious bias. The law will now apply indefinitely to certain civil cases, including those involving civil rights violations, civil commitment proceedings, and hate crime damages cases. Notably, the bill requires parties in applicable civil cases to notify the court and other parties at least 15 days before trial that these jury selection procedures will be in effect. The legislation aims to prevent discriminatory jury selection while maintaining the integrity of the jury selection process, recognizing that both intentional and unintentional biases can unfairly influence jury composition.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB645