New Jersey is taking a step towards a more inclusive democracy as Governor Phil Murphy has signed an executive order allowing residents with prior convictions to serve on juries. The new directive, which takes effect immediately, removes the long-standing ban on individuals convicted of indictable offenses from participating in jury duty.
Under the previous law, people who had completed their prison sentences were still barred from serving, even if they had served time on probation or parole. However, Murphy's order reverses this stance, ensuring that residents who have completed their sentence can now be eligible to serve as jurors.
The expansion of jury eligibility is expected to impact over 350,000 individuals in New Jersey, making the state's jury pool more representative of its communities. By doing so, the governor believes that the juries will become more inclusive and fair, reflecting the diversity of the people they serve.
Murphy emphasized the importance of this move, stating that serving on a jury is "a defining expression of United States citizenship" and an opportunity for citizens to participate in democratic self-government. He also highlighted the significance of addressing barriers to participation, saying it will help make democracy stronger, fairer, and more inclusive.
It's worth noting that the executive order only applies to individuals whose convictions occurred before January 10, with those convicted under federal law or another state's law remaining ineligible for jury duty. Convictions for treason or impeachment also disqualify individuals from serving on juries.
This move is part of Murphy's broader "second chances" agenda, which has been focused on expanding the rights of residents convicted of crimes. The governor has already issued 307 pardons or commutations, more than any previous administration in New Jersey's history. He plans to take further action before leaving office on January 20.
Interestingly, a similar provision does not exist in Pennsylvania, where prior convictions disqualify individuals from serving as jurors unless they have received a pardon or amnesty.
Under the previous law, people who had completed their prison sentences were still barred from serving, even if they had served time on probation or parole. However, Murphy's order reverses this stance, ensuring that residents who have completed their sentence can now be eligible to serve as jurors.
The expansion of jury eligibility is expected to impact over 350,000 individuals in New Jersey, making the state's jury pool more representative of its communities. By doing so, the governor believes that the juries will become more inclusive and fair, reflecting the diversity of the people they serve.
Murphy emphasized the importance of this move, stating that serving on a jury is "a defining expression of United States citizenship" and an opportunity for citizens to participate in democratic self-government. He also highlighted the significance of addressing barriers to participation, saying it will help make democracy stronger, fairer, and more inclusive.
It's worth noting that the executive order only applies to individuals whose convictions occurred before January 10, with those convicted under federal law or another state's law remaining ineligible for jury duty. Convictions for treason or impeachment also disqualify individuals from serving on juries.
This move is part of Murphy's broader "second chances" agenda, which has been focused on expanding the rights of residents convicted of crimes. The governor has already issued 307 pardons or commutations, more than any previous administration in New Jersey's history. He plans to take further action before leaving office on January 20.
Interestingly, a similar provision does not exist in Pennsylvania, where prior convictions disqualify individuals from serving as jurors unless they have received a pardon or amnesty.
! It's all about giving people a second chance to make a difference in their community and country. I mean, jury duty isn't just about serving time for a crime, it's about being part of the system that makes our democracy work 
. By letting people with prior convictions serve on juries, we're making sure everyone has an equal say, regardless of what happened in their past.
It'll be cool to see the demographics of jury members shift and become more reflective of the state as a whole. Plus, it shows that our leaders are willing to listen and adapt to make things better for everyone 
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. It's crazy how many ppl were excluded from jury duty just because of a prior conviction - now we're talking about inclusivity on a whole new level 
. I hope other states take note and follow suit 
, especially Pennsylvania! We need more inclusive systems in place to truly reflect the diversity of our communities 
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! Giving people a second chance to serve their community like that is super inspiring 
. I mean, it's only fair that those who've completed their sentences can participate in the democratic process too, right? It's like, they've done their time, now it's time for them to give back 
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. And yeah, it makes sense that it wouldn't apply to people who were convicted of super serious crimes like treason or impeachment... I don't think anyone wants to give those guys the power to decide anything 
. It's about fairness and representation, you know? So yeah, this executive order is definitely a good move 
... I mean, I guess it's good that people with past convictions can serve on juries now... but think about all the potential issues that could arise 
... or worse, what if they're still connected to their old crew and try to influence the verdict? 
... what about all the folks who got screwed by a rigged system and were stuck with a record that's hard to shake off? 
It just feels like another way for the system to perpetuate inequality 
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But for real, this move shows that the governor is willing to listen and try to fix systemic problems. It's all about representation, right? The fact that 350k+ people are gonna be eligible to serve on juries means that the pool of potential jurors is way more diverse now. It's a small step, but it's something 
just think about it, 350k ppl can now be part of the jury pool... that's like 12% of NJ's population 
in 2020, only 43% of eligible citizens voted in the presidential election 
so this change is a big deal! 
. now, ppl who have completed their sentence can participate... it's all about giving 2nd chances, right? 
and it's not just about democracy, it's also about representation 
like, in PA they got a whole different system and it's not that inclusive 
and I love how he says it's all about strengthening democracy 
Governor Murphy is literally the best for this move 
It's about giving everyone a second chance to participate in democracy, you know? 