§ 18-36. Drawing and preparation of venire list.

(a)

At such time as the judges shall determine, and in ample time before each regular or special term of the circuit and criminal courts, upon order of the judges and in the presence of two or more of the judges, the secretary and clerk shall unlock the jury box, break the seal thereof and after having well shaken same, cause to be drawn therefrom, in the presence of the board, by a child under the age of ten years, or a person over such age but blindfolded, such number of names as may be ordered to be taken therefrom by the judges of such courts from which to impanel petit and trial juries for the respective terms of such courts.

(b)

In the event the name of a person known by the board to have died, removed from the county, or to be mentally or physically disabled or otherwise ineligible, should be drawn from such box, a line shall be drawn through such name and number on such jury list. Such name and number shall be struck through with applicable notation made and the corresponding numbered slip destroyed. Additional names shall be drawn until the required number of names for the venire is obtained. The numbered slips shall be immediately applied to the jury list and typewritten list of the venire prepared. The numbered slips shall be placed in an envelope which together with the typewritten list of the venire shall be endorsed by the secretary and the clerk with the date of the drawing and certified on each as the venire for the term and court drawn and filed by the clerk. Such envelope shall be kept under lock and key, together with such venire list after its use, for three years from the date of expiration of the term for which drawn. At the expiration of such three years, the judges may order such numbered slips placed back in the jury box or may order them destroyed.

(c)

After preparation of the venire list and in ample time before commencement of the term, the clerk shall notify by certified or regular mail the persons whose names are set out in such venire list and this notification by certified or regular mail shall constitute a legal summons to these persons as jurors for such term of court. From such persons, when so summoned, the judges shall prepare a jury calendar dividing the term of court into periods of not more than three weeks and shall impanel from the venire such number of names of jurors as shall in their discretion be required for the aforesaid periods, and these shall be designated as the trial panels. Jurors assigned to each court or division shall be freely exchanged.

(d)

After service of the writ of venire facias, or after preparation of the trial panels, if by reason of a disqualification of the proposed jurors or other causes, the required number of jurors cannot be obtained from such persons so summoned, the judges shall have drawn from the jury box in open court a sufficient number of names until the trial panels are completed. This drawing need not be in the presence of the jury commissioners.

(e)

The secretary and the clerk shall note on the jury list provided for in section 18-34 the date of the trial panel for which a juror has been summoned. The inclusion of a juror's name on a trial panel and the reporting of such juror to such trial panel for service shall constitute jury service within the meaning of the provision herein that a juror shall not be required to serve more than once in any three-year period. Such jury list shall be correctly posted by the secretary and clerk at the end of the service of each trial panel. Upon order of the judges, any member of the bar or public may inspect such jury list, envelope with numbered slips or venire list.

(Priv. Acts 1965, ch. 159, § 5; Priv. Acts 1981, ch. 76; Ord. No. O-91-8-101, § 1, 8-29-91)