MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Constitution

By: Senator(s) Turner

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 31, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE BY STATUTE TO PROVIDE FOR A JURY OF SIX JURORS IN MISDEMEANOR CASES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

Amend Section 31, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

Section 31. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, but the Legislature may, by enactment, provide that in all civil suits tried in the circuit and chancery court, nine (9) or more jurors may agree on the verdict and return it as the verdict of the jury, and may, by enactment, provide that in misdemeanor prosecutions the court may impanel a jury consisting of no less than six (6) jurors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 1998, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment provides that the Legislature may enact a

law allowing the jury in a misdemeanor case to consist of not less than six (6) jurors."