Ontario is proposing to move jury duty questionnaires online.
That’s one part of a large red-tape reduction bill the government introduced this week, which also includes increasing the amount of time retired judges can serve.
Attorney-General Doug Downey says allowing prospective jurors to complete their questionnaire online is “the next evolution” in introducing a more modern way of jury selection and management.
The province says the questionnaires are mailed to about 800,000 people a year and ask questions – such as whether the recipient has been convicted of certain criminal offences – to determine eligibility to serve on a jury.
People currently have to return the completed form by mail, and those who do qualify may receive a summons to participate in the jury-selection process.
The legislation says that people could still request that a paper copy of the questionnaire be mailed to them instead.