Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5096
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Law
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-02: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-11T09:06:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act" (H.R. 5096) aims to prevent discrimination in federal jury selection by prohibiting the exclusion of individuals based on disability or age. It promotes equal access to jury service, ensuring that qualified people can participate unless their condition cannot be reasonably accommodated.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Discrimination: Amends Section 1862 of Title 28, U.S. Code, to add "disability, age" to the existing list of protected categories (e.g., race, color, religion, sex, national origin, economic status), barring exclusion from jury service based on these traits.
- Updated Qualifications for Jury Service: Modifies Section 1865(b)(4) of Title 28, U.S. Code, by replacing "infirmity" (a broad term for physical or mental weakness) with "disability that cannot be reasonably accommodated." This requires courts to consider accommodations before disqualifying someone.
- Accommodation Requirement: Adds a new subsection (c) to Section 1865, stating that no person can be disqualified from grand or petit (trial) juries under certain qualification rules if reasonable accommodations (practical adjustments, like assistive devices or scheduling changes) would make them eligible.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands anti-discrimination protections in jury selection (Section 1862) to explicitly include disability and age, which were not previously listed.
- Narrows the grounds for disqualification due to health issues by focusing on disabilities that truly cannot be accommodated, rather than vague "infirmity."
- Introduces a mandate for reasonable accommodations in jury qualifications (Section 1865), aligning federal jury rules more closely with broader disability rights laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires accommodations in public services unless they cause undue hardship.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Increases opportunities for people with disabilities or older adults to serve on federal juries, fostering more diverse and representative juries. This could enhance public trust in the judicial system by making it more inclusive.
- On Government Agencies: Federal courts and jury administrators (e.g., U.S. District Courts) will need to implement accommodation processes, potentially requiring training, resources for assistive tools, or policy updates. This may involve modest administrative costs but promotes compliance with equality standards.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses solely on domestic federal jury procedures.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals with Disabilities: Primary beneficiaries, gaining clearer protections against exclusion and access via accommodations.
- Older Adults: Protected from age-based discrimination in jury summons and selection.
- Federal Judiciary and Court Staff: Responsible for applying the new rules, including assessing accommodations during jury qualification.
- Litigants and the Public: Indirectly affected through potentially fairer, more diverse juries in federal trials.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens alignment between federal jury laws and the ADA, reducing risks of lawsuits over discriminatory exclusions. "Reasonable accommodation" is a key ADA concept, defined as modifications that do not fundamentally alter the service or impose excessive burden.
- Constitutional: Supports the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of an impartial jury by ensuring jury pools are not unfairly narrowed by bias against disabilities or age, promoting equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment.
- Political: Reflects bipartisan interest in disability rights (introduced by a diverse group of representatives), potentially setting a precedent for similar nondiscrimination expansions in other civic duties. It could encourage state courts to adopt comparable reforms, though it applies only to federal juries.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-02: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-09-02: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act — issued 2025-09-02 — PDF (2 pages)