Lawmakers Vote To Open Jury Service To Some Louisiana Felons

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Some people convicted of felonies in Louisiana would be able to serve on juries for civil and criminal cases under a bill sent to the governor’s desk.

The proposal by Democratic Rep. Denise Marcelle won final legislative passage Thursday with a 23-13 Senate vote.

The House earlier had narrowly backed the measure with a 55-42 vote.

People convicted of a felony crime currently can only serve on a jury if they have been pardoned by a governor.

Marcelle’s bill would change that to allow people convicted of felonies to be eligible for jury service if they’ve been off probation or parole and out of prison for five years.

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