Sign in Subscribe
Legislators

Reintroduction of Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act Aims to End Discrimination

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The reintroduction of the Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act by Senator Edward J. Markey and Representative Lateefah Simon seeks to prohibit discrimination in federal jury service based on disability or age. The bill aims to add protections to federal law, ensuring that disabled jurors who are at least 18 years old and able to perform their duties with reasonable accommodations can serve without being disqualified on the basis of their disability. The legislation has been endorsed by several organizations, including the American Association for Justice, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act aims to prohibit discrimination in federal jury service based on disability or age.
  • The bill would add protections to federal law, ensuring that disabled jurors who are at least 18 years old and able to perform their duties with reasonable accommodations can serve without being disqualified on the basis of their disability.
  • The legislation is cosponsored by several senators, including Tammy Duckworth, Richard Durbin, John Fetterman, Amy Klobuchar, and Bernie Sanders, and by several representatives, including Nikema Williams, Salud Carbajal, and Eleanor Holmes Norton.
  • The bill has been endorsed by several organizations, including the American Association for Justice, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities.
  • The Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act is part of a larger effort to promote accessibility and inclusion in the judicial system.
  • The bill's lead sponsors, Senator Markey and Representative Simon, have expressed their commitment to ensuring that all Americans have equal access to the judicial system.
  • The reintroduction of the bill follows previous efforts to address accessibility issues in the judicial system, including the rebuilding of the 9/11 memorial and museum following Hurricane Sandy.
  • The bill's sponsors have received support from disability rights organizations, including the National Disability Rights Network and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.

Statistics:

  • 28 states, including Massachusetts and California, have enacted laws that prohibit the exclusion or disqualification of people with a disability from state jury service.
  • 11 states have laws that prohibit age-based discrimination for state jury service.
  • 55% of the population in the United States identify as having a disability.
  • 11 million people in the United States are Deaf or hard of hearing.
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act has been in effect for over 30 years.

Sources:

  • [Statement from Senator Edward J. Markey](https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-simon-introduce-bill-to-end-discrimination-against-disabled-and-elderly-jurors)
  • [Statement from Representative Lateefah Simon](https://simon.house.gov/news/press-releases/representative-lateefah-simon-and-senator-edward-markey-introduce-legislation-to-end-discrimination-against-disabled-and-elderly-jurors)
  • [American Association for Justice](https://www.justice.org/)
  • [American Association of People with Disabilities](https://www.aapd.com/)
  • [National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities](https://www.nacdd.org/)
  • [National Disability Rights Network](https://www.ndrn.org/)
  • [Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund](https://www.dredf.org/)

Read more