S*0205(Rat #0555, Act #0466 of 1984)  General Bill, By H. Rubin, W.P. Cantrell, 
H.A. Chapman, R.C. Dennis, R.H. Ellis, R.C. Lake, I.E. Lourie, McConnell, Moore, 
E.J. Patterson, C.G. Poag, Ravenel, A.M. Sanders, H.C. Smith, J.V. Smith, 
N.W. Smith, D.S. Taylor and D.E. Turnipseed
 A Bill to amend Section 14-7-810, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to persons not qualified to serve as jurors, so as to provide that
 legal blindness does not disqualify an otherwise qualified juror and provide
 that any prospective juror may be punished for contempt of court if he
 believes that he is disqualified and fails to report it.-amended title

   02/08/83  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-339
   02/08/83  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-340
   04/20/83  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary SJ-1061
   04/27/83  Senate Amended SJ-1137
   04/27/83  Senate Read second time SJ-1137
   04/28/83  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-1163
   05/02/83  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-2484
   05/02/83  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-2484
   04/19/84  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-2511
   04/25/84  House  Objection by Rep. P. Bradley, Gregory & Hughston
                     HJ-2610
   06/14/84  House  Read second time HJ-3730
   06/15/84  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-3760
   06/19/84         Ratified R 555
   06/20/84         Signed By Governor
   06/20/84         Effective date 06/20/84
   06/20/84         Act No. 466
   07/02/84         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-810, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PERSONS NOT QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS JURORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT LEGAL BLINDNESS DOES NOT DISQUALIFY AN OTHERWISE QUALIFIED JUROR AND PROVIDE THAT ANY PROSPECTIVE JUROR MAY BE PUNISHED FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT IF HE BELIEVES THAT HE IS DISQUALIFIED AND FAILS TO REPORT IT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Persons not qualified to serve as jurors

SECTION 1. Section 14-7-810 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 14-7-810. In addition to any other provision of law, no person is qualified to serve as a juror in any court in this State if:

(1) He has been convicted in a state or federal court of record of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and his civil rights have not been restored by pardon or amnesty.

(2) He is unable to read, write, speak, or understand the English language.

(3) He is incapable by reason of mental or physical infirmities to render efficient jury service. Legal blindness does not disqualify an otherwise qualified juror.

(4) He has less than a sixth grade education or its equivalent.

Any person called to jury service who knows or has good reason to suspect that he is disqualified under this section, upon questioning by the trial judge, hearing officer, or clerk of court, must state the disqualifying facts or the reasons for his suspicions and any failure to do so is punishable as contempt of court. The trial judge must make the final determination of the qualifications of a juror as set out in this section and his decision must not be disturbed on appeal."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.