Bill to Put Non-Unanimous Juries Before Voters Fails

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Despite broad support, a measure that would put Oregon’s controversial jury system before voters died in the Oregon Senate during the final days of the 2019 legislative session.

Oregon is the only state in the country that allows for convictions via non-unanimous juries in criminal felony cases.

House Joint Resolution 10 would have put before voters on the November 2020 ballot a proposed change to the Oregon Constitution. If passed, it would have mandated that criminal jury verdicts be unanimous, as is the case with the federal government and all other 49 states.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that with the measure dead, the state’s legal community turns to the U.S. Supreme Court, who will take up non-unanimous juries during its next term.