Introduction of the District of Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2019. This bill would clarify that D.C. residents may not be excluded or disqualified from jury service in the D.C. Superior Court based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Specifically, my bill would clarify that ``sex,'' which is a protected class under the non-discrimination law that currently applies to local D.C. jurors, includes sexual orientation and gender identity. Under the Home Rule Act, Congress has exclusive jurisdiction over Title 11 of the D.C. Code (relating to organization and jurisdiction of the local D.C. courts).

The District has one of the strongest non-discrimination laws in the country, including protecting individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, under the Home Rule Act, the District does not have the authority to make this non-discrimination law applicable to local jurors. Therefore, until the District is given complete control over the jurisdiction and organization of its local courts, an act of Congress is required to make this important change to protect the rights of all D.C. residents. I will soon be introducing a bill to give the District local control of its courts. In the meantime, however, the District of Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2019 is necessary to protect D.C. jurors from discrimination.

My bill is based on H.R. 874, the Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2019 (H.R. 874), which would make the same changes to federal jury law. I am a proud original cosponsor of that bill.

I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

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