E6-16643. Service by Members of the Armed Forces on State and Local Juries

AGENCY:

Department of Defense.

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

This part implements 10 U.S.C 982 to establish uniform DoD policies for jury service by members of the Armed Forces on active duty. The provisions of this part impact active-duty members of the Armed Forces. This updated rule contains editorial changes only as required for internal Department of Defense mandated reconsideration every 5 years.

DATES:

Comments must be received by December 11, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number and or RIN number and title, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1160.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at http://regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colonel C. Garcia, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Program Integration, 4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000. Telephone # [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866, “Regulatory Planning and Review”

It has been determined that 32 CFR part 144 is not a significant regulatory action. The rule does not:

(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy; a section of the economy; productivity; competition; jobs; the environment; public health or safety; or State, local, or tribal governments or communities;

(2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another Agency;

(3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs, or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or

(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in this Executive Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (Sec. 202, Pub. L. 104-4)

It has been certified that this rule does not contain a Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by State, local and tribal governments, in aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any one year.

Public Law 96-354, “Regulatory Flexibility Act” (5 U.S.C. 601)

It has been certified that this rule is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601) because it would not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. By it's terms, this rule applies to state and local governments. It has no impact on “small entities”.

Public Law 96-511, “Paperwork Reduction Act” (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35)

It has been certified that this rule does impose reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The reporting and recordkeeping requirements have been submitted to OMB for review.

Executive Order 13132, “Federalism”

It has been certified that this rule does not have federalism implications, as set forth in Executive Order 13132. This rule does not have substantial direct effects on the States, the relationship between the National Government and the States; or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of Government.

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 144

• Courts
• Intergovernmental relations
• Military personnel

Accordingly, 32 CFR Part 144 is proposed to be revised to read as follows:

PART 144—SERVICE BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON STATE AND LOCAL JURIES

144.1

Purpose.

144.2

Applicability.

144.3

Definitions.

144.4

Policy.

144.4

Responsibilities.

144.5

Procedures.

Authority: 10 U.S.C. 982

§ 144.1

Purpose.

This part implements 10 U.S.C 982 to establish uniform DoD policies for jury service by members of the Armed Forces on active duty.

§ 144.2

Applicability.

The provisions of this part apply to active-duty members of the Armed Forces.

§ 144.3

Definitions.

(a) Armed Forces. The Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps.

(b) State. Includes the 50 United States, U.S. Territories, District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(c) Active Duty. Full-time duty in the active Military Service of the United States; Includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, active duty for training, and attendance, while in the active Military Service, at a school designated as a Service school by law or by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned.

(d) Operating Forces. Those forces whose primary missions are to participate in combat and the integral supporting elements thereof.

§ 144.4

Policy.

It is DoD policy to permit members of the Armed Forces to maximally fulfill their civic responsibilities consistent with their military duties. For Service members stationed in the United States, serving on a State or local jury is one such civic obligation. Service members are exempt from jury duty, when it unreasonably would interfere with performance of their military duties or adversely affect the readiness of a unit, command, or activity.

§ 144.5

Responsibilities.

The Secretaries of the Military Departments, or designees, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, shall determine whether Service members shall be exempt from jury duty. This authority may be delegated no lower than to commanders authorized to convene special courts-martial.

§ 144.6

Procedures.

The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall publish procedures that provide the following:

(a) When a Service member on active duty is summoned to perform State or local jury duty, the Secretary concerned, or the official to whom such authority has been delegated, shall decide if such jury duty would:

(1) Interfere unreasonably with the performance of the Service members military duties.

(2) Affect adversely the readiness of the unit, command, or activity to which the member is assigned.

(b) If such jury service would interfere with the Service member's military duties or adversely affect readiness, the Service member shall be exempted from jury duty. The decision of the Secretary concerned, or the official to whom such authority has been delegated, shall be conclusive.

(c) All general and flag officers, commanding officers, and all personnel assigned to the operating forces, in a training status, or stationed outside the United States are exempt from serving on a State or local jury. Such jury service necessarily would interfere unreasonably with the performance of military duties by these members and adversely affect the readiness of the unit, command, or activity to which they are assigned.

(d) Service members who serve on State or local juries shall not be charged leave or lose any pay or entitlements during the period of service. All fees accrued to members for jury service are payable to the U.S. Treasury. Members are entitled to any reimbursement from the State or local jury authority for expenses incurred in the performance of jury duty, such as for transportation costs or parking fees.

(e) Written notice of each exemption determination shall be provided to the responsible State or local official who summoned an exempt member for jury duty.

Dated: October 3, 2006.

C.R. Choate,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.