Sponsors (17)
The bill increases inclusion and fairness in federal juries for people with disabilities by requiring accommodations and clearer guidance for courts, while imposing modest costs, potential procedural delays, and rare logistical or legal challenges.
People with disabilities are more likely to be able to serve on federal juries because courts must consider and provide reasonable accommodations.
Jurors and juries will better reflect community diversity and perceived fairness because accommodations reduce exclusion of people with disabilities from jury pools.
Federal courts and staff receive clearer statutory guidance to provide consistent accommodations, reducing ad hoc disparities across districts.
Taxpayers and court budgets may face modest new costs because courts will need to pay for assistive devices, interpreters, or other accommodations.
Federal court staff, jurors, and litigants may experience slower jury selection and case processing while courts implement accommodations and train personnel.
Litigants and other trial participants could rarely face disputes or logistical adjustments (e.g., timing, procedures) tied to accommodations that parties challenge as affecting trial fairness.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prevents excluding prospective federal jurors solely for disability or age when reasonable accommodations would allow them to serve.
Introduced September 2, 2025 by Lateefah Simon · Last progress September 2, 2025
Changes federal jury rules so a person cannot be kept off a grand or petit jury just because of a disability or because of age if a reasonable accommodation would let them serve. Federal courts must consider and provide reasonable accommodations so long as the person would otherwise be qualified to serve with that help.