Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL) introduced the Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2024, which explicitly bans discrimination in jury service on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

“Jury service is a privilege and a responsibility of citizenship.  As a former courtroom lawyer, I know how important it is to ensure that prospective jurors have the opportunity to serve and that parties have an impartial jury of their peers,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I am glad to introduce the Juror Non-Discrimination Act with Congresswoman Balint to ensure that LGBTQI+ people can serve on juries and neither fear nor experience discrimination in jury selection.”

“Today in 2024, federal law does not explicitly protect LGBTQI+ people from discrimination in the jury selection process.  When we exclude people from our judicial process we make our system inherently less free and fair.  Diverse participation in the American justice system is critical to the strength of our democracy,” said Congresswoman Becca Balint.  “Explicitly banning this kind of discrimination is an important step to ending anti-LGBTQI+ bias everywhere.  It’s long past time our community is guaranteed equality under federal law and is free from discrimination because of who we are or who we love.” 

While the Supreme Court has ruled that excluding jurors based on certain categories is unconstitutional, there is no explicit prohibition on discrimination in jury service on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  The Juror Non-Discrimination Act adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes that cannot be used as criteria for exclusion from jury service, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and economic status.

The Congressional Equality Caucus, Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Center for Transgender Equality, and National LGBTQ+ Bar Association have endorsed the Juror Non-Discrimination Act.  

Congresswoman Fletcher is a Vice Chair of the Equality Caucus.  In the 116th and the 117th Congresses, Congresswoman Fletcher co-sponsored and voted for the Equality Act, H.R. 5, to protect LGBTQI+ individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.  The Juror Non-Discrimination Act is a component of the Equality Act.

To view the full text of the Juror Non-Discrimination Act, click here.