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To all users of the Handbook for Georgia Grand Jurors: The 2011 General Assembly enacted the Jury Composition Reform Act of 2011, Ga. L. 2011, p. 2011 Act 50, 2011 HB 415. This legislation totally revises the statutes relating to the selection of jurors for both the grand jury and trial juries. Most of the changes to the way jury lists are created and jurors selected for both the grand and trial juries will become effective July 1, 2012. However, quite a few of the changes became effective July 1, 2011. For this reason, revision of the Handbook for Georgia Grand Jurors will take a little longer than is normal. Until we have the 2011 edition available, you need to be aware of the following changes that took effect on July 1, 2011: 1. The term “foreman” has been removed from the Code and replaced by “foreperson;” 2. All jurors must be residents of the county “for at least” six months prior to serving on a jury. OCGA 15-12-60(a); 3. The requirement that grand jurors be “the most experienced, upright, and intelligent persons” has been eliminated. OCGA 15-12-60(a); 4. Elected officials and convicted felons are no longer “incompetent” to serve on the grand jury; they are merely not eligible to serve. OCGA 15-12-60(b); 5. The current grand jury can only request that the foreperson of the preceding grand jury “appear before it for the purpose of reviewing and reporting the actions of the immediately preceding grand jury.” They no longer can request the clerk of the preceding grand jury appear and be paid for his or her appearance. OCGA 15-12-61(b). 6. If there will be more than one week of court, the superior court judge can direct the clerk to summon separate grand juries for each week. OCGA 15-12-63; 7. Prospective grand jurors can be required to fill out confidential jury questionnaires concerning their qualifications. OCGA 15-12-11(b). Both the unannotated and annotated editions will be revised to take into account these changes. If in the meantime, you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Charles. C. Olson General Counsel Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia Suite 400 104 Marietta St. Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: [PHONE REDACTED] Fax: [PHONE REDACTED] Country Code: 01 email: [EMAIL REDACTED] URL: http://www.pacga.org/