HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3028        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1814

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James M. Murphy

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act regarding Chapter 277.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3028        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1814

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act regarding Chapter 277.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Repeal Chapter 277, Section 1 and replace with the following:

Section 1. The clerk of the court for each county, including the clerk of the Superior Court sitting for criminal business in Suffolk county, not less than 28 days before the first Wednesday of January, April, July and October respectively, in conjunction with the Jury Commissioner, shall issue letters of venire for such number of individuals for Grand Jury service proscribed by M.G.L.A. 234A § 12 or as deemed necessary to meet the needs of Grand Jury impanelment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the clerks of Dukes County and Nantucket County, respectively, shall conduct Grand Jury meetings in conjunction with the Jury Commissioner at such times and in such number of sessions as they deem necessary.

In all counties, the Court shall select up to 23 Grand Jury members from the prospective Grand Jury members, and in no event fewer than 13. The Court may, in its discretion, select five additional Grand Jury members to serve as supplemental stand-by members to serve on the Grand Jury, who shall be available to serve if necessary during the three months and until another Grand Jury has been impanelled in their stead. If, in the course of a Grand Jury session, a quorum becomes jeopardized, the District Attorney may petition the Court for leave to supplement the Grand Jury with additional, supplemental jurors, who may be summoned to service for the remainder of the Grand Jury session. No less than 12 members shall vote in the affirmative to lawfully issue a bill of indictment.

Repeal Sections 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, and 2H of 277