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TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-320, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CALLING OF ALTERNATE JURORS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS AND GENERAL SESSIONS, SO AS TO ALLOW THE PRESIDING JUDGE BROADER DISCRETION IN DETERMINING WHEN AND HOW MANY ALTERNATE JURORS ARE NECESSARY IN A TRIAL THAT IS LIKELY TO BE PROTRACTED.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 14-7-320 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 14-7-320. WheneverWhen, in the opinion of a presiding judge of a court of common pleas or general sessions of anya county of this State about to enter upon the trial of a civil or criminal case, the trial is likely to be protracted, the court may cause an entry to that effect to be made in the minutes of the court and, immediately after the jury is impaneled and sworn,. Then, the court shall direct the calling of one or twoadditional jurors, in its discretion, to be known as alternate jurors. These jurors must be drawn from the same source, in the same manner, have the same qualifications, and be subject to the same examination and challengeas the jurors already sworn."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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