Section 12-16-70

Drawing from jury box of names for grand jury and petit juriesfor first week of next session of court by judge generally; sealing of namesdrawn and forwarding thereof to clerk of court; preparation of list of namesdrawn, etc., and issuance of venire to sheriff by clerk.

When jurors, grand or petit, are needed for any week of court, the judge, or where there are more than one, then any one of the judges of the court, shall at a time within his discretion, but at least 20 days prior to the first day on which the prospective jurors are to serve, draw or cause to be drawn from the trial court jury box the names of prospective jurors in a number he deems sufficient to obtain the juries needed for the period for which the names are drawn; provided, however, if prior to the first day of service, it appears that an insufficient number of prospective jurors summoned will be available to constitute the juries for the period for which they were summoned, the court shall cause the names of additional prospective jurors to be drawn and to be summoned for service forthwith.

After each name is drawn it shall not be returned to the trial court jury box. The names so drawn shall be forwarded forthwith to the clerk of the court who shall retain possession thereof without disclosing to anyone the names drawn nor any list thereof. Not less than 20 days before the day the prospective jurors are to first appear in court for service as jurors, the clerk shall make a list of names drawn, showing the date on which the prospective jurors shall appear and in what court they shall serve and shall enter opposite every name the residence address, and may include, for informational purposes to counsel, the occupation of the person and his place of business, and the clerk shall issue a venire list containing the names and information to the sheriff who shall forthwith summon the persons named thereon by any means authorized by law to appear and serve as jurors. The accuracy of any information which might be furnished to counsel shall not be grounds for challenging a verdict rendered by a jury.

(Code 1907, §7248; Acts 1909, No. 227, p. 305; Code 1923,§8616; Code 1940, T. 30, §30; Acts 1981, No. 81-788, p. 1381, §2.)