US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

   (1) A citizen of the United States; and

   (2) A resident of Rhode Island who either:

   (i) Resides in the county where the person is registered to vote; or

   (ii) Is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within this state; or

   (iii) Possesses a Rhode Island identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 3-8-6 and 3-8-6.1; or

   (iv) Is an individual filing a state income tax return; or

   (v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation.

   (3) At least 18 years of age;

   (4) Able to understand and participate in the court proceedings; and

   (5) Physically and mentally capable of performing in a reasonable manner the duties of a juror.

   (b) No person shall be allowed to serve as a juror if he or she has been lawfully adjudicated to be non compos mentis.

   (c) No person convicted of a felony shall be allowed to serve as a juror, until completion of such felon's sentence, served or suspended, and of parole or probation regardless of a nolo contendere plea.

   (d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(4) and (5), a person with a disability shall not be ineligible to serve as a juror solely on the basis of his or her disability, and if that person meets the above requirements, with reasonable accommodations if necessary, he or she shall be deemed a qualified juror.

   (e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from disqualifying a prospective juror because he or she lacks a faculty or has a disability which will prevent the potential juror from being a competent juror in a particular case.

   (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a party's right to preemptorially challenge jurors.