Federal Jury Service Now Explicitly Protects Against Exclusion Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

The newly proposed Jury ACCESS Act of 2025 is short, sweet, and focused on making sure federal juries actually look like the country they represent. Specifically, Section 2 of the bill amends federal law (Title 28, Section 1862) to explicitly forbid the exclusion of potential jurors based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This closes a gap in existing protections and ensures that these characteristics cannot be used as a reason to disqualify someone from serving their civic duty.

The Fine Print on Fairness

Existing federal law already prevents exclusion from jury service based on race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status. This bill simply adds sexual orientation and gender identity to that list. Think of it like updating the employee handbook: the rule against discrimination was always implied for federal courts, but now it’s explicitly spelled out in the statute. For everyday people, this means that if you are called for federal jury duty, your identity is officially a non-issue in the selection process, just like your religion or where your family came from.

What This Means for the Jury Box

This change is about making sure the pool of potential jurors—the people deciding critical cases—is as broad and diverse as possible. When federal juries are drawn from a fair cross-section of the community, the justice system is stronger. For instance, if a case involves complex issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community, having potential jurors who understand those dynamics, without fear of being automatically excluded, strengthens the fairness of the trial process. This provision ensures that every eligible citizen has an equal opportunity to participate in this fundamental aspect of democracy.

Implementation: A Clear Mandate

Because the bill is simply adding two specific categories to an existing list of protected characteristics, implementation should be straightforward. The language is clear and leaves little room for interpretation, which is good news for federal courts and the citizens they serve. The mandate is unambiguous: federal courts cannot use sexual orientation or gender identity as a basis for exclusion. This is a clear win for equality and a practical step toward ensuring that federal juries truly reflect the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American public.