Bill Targets Bias In Jury Selection
From the Chicago Sun-Times
Attorney Jill M. Metz counts herself among the supporters of legislation that would bar discrimination against potential jurors based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
"I just don't think there's any place in our country for discrimination," Metz said today. "Jury service is necessary for all citizens to assure litigants that we're a country of laws that apply equally."
Metz, who has worked for nearly 30 years to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, is president of the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.
Attorney John L. Litchfield of Foley & Lardner LLP also voiced support for the legislation.
"Any form of discrimination against the LGBT community should be disfavored by the judicial system, particularly with respect to individuals serving on a jury," Litchfield, president of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago said in an e-mail. "If a person is qualified to serve as a juror, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, they should be permitted to do so."
The Jury ACCESS (Access for Capable Citizens and Equality in Service Selection) Act recently was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Sun-Times
Attorney Jill M. Metz counts herself among the supporters of legislation that would bar discrimination against potential jurors based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
"I just don't think there's any place in our country for discrimination," Metz said today. "Jury service is necessary for all citizens to assure litigants that we're a country of laws that apply equally."
Metz, who has worked for nearly 30 years to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, is president of the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.
Attorney John L. Litchfield of Foley & Lardner LLP also voiced support for the legislation.
"Any form of discrimination against the LGBT community should be disfavored by the judicial system, particularly with respect to individuals serving on a jury," Litchfield, president of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago said in an e-mail. "If a person is qualified to serve as a juror, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, they should be permitted to do so."
The Jury ACCESS (Access for Capable Citizens and Equality in Service Selection) Act recently was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
Read more in our daily News Update...