Sponsors (11)
Introduced June 18, 2025 by Jeanne Shaheen · Last progress June 18, 2025
The bill prevents exclusion of prospective jurors for sexual orientation or gender identity—improving representation and fairness in federal juries—while imposing modest administrative costs and a risk of case‑specific litigation or delays.
LGBTQ+ people: cannot be excluded from federal jury service based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, increasing the representativeness of federal juries.
LGBTQ+ communities and the general public: greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ jurors improves fairness and diversity of perspectives in federal trials and can boost public confidence in the justice system.
Federal court staff: implementing non‑discrimination rules in jury selection may require additional training and procedural changes, creating modest administrative costs.
Taxpayers and federal courts: some litigants or attorneys may contest the scope or application of the ban, leading to litigation or delays in jury selection in individual cases.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bars excluding or disqualifying potential federal jurors because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Prohibits excluding, striking, challenging, excusing, or otherwise disqualifying potential federal jurors because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. The change amends the federal jury-selection statute to bar discrimination against people who are or may be perceived as LGBTQ+ when they are called for service on federal juries. The rule applies to federal courts and prospective federal jurors nationwide. The excerpt does not include funding, enforcement details, or an effective date.