End Jury Disenfranchisement in New York

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In New York, people convicted of felonies are permanently disqualified from serving on a jury — a ban that disproportionally affects Black and Brown New Yorkers, barring them from full civic engagement.

Without diverse juries, defendants are denied the right to be judged by a jury of their peers. A jury system that underrepresents Black and Brown New Yorkers is one that ultimately sends more Black and Brown New Yorkers to jail, and it is one that needs to be overhauled.

TELL LAWMAKERS: Repeal this lifetime ban that shuts thousands of Black and Brown New Yorkers out of the democratic process and prevents people from being judged by a jury of their peers.

Message Recipient:
Governor Kathy Hochul
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Your Representatives

Photograph of a jury duty summons letter

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Jury service is a cornerstone of our system of self-government and, along with voting, represents Americans’ most significant opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

This lifetime categorical ban not only disenfranchises returning New Yorkers and makes it harder to reintegrate into society, but also robs people accused of crimes of their right to a jury of their peers, erodes public confidence in the fairness of the jury system, and perpetuates a vicious cycle of incarcerating New Yorkers of color. A jury system that underrepresents Black and Brown New Yorkers is one that ultimately sends more Black and Brown New Yorkers to jail, and it is one that needs to be overhauled.

New York must eliminate the ban on jury service and look to remove all public and private barriers to reintegration that formerly incarcerated people face.

The legislature should pass and the Governor should sign the Jury of Our Peers Bill S.206A (Cleare) /A.1432A (Aubry), a bill that would repeal New York’s lifetime categorical ban. This legislation would also postpone the service of anyone currently incarcerated until they complete their term of imprisonment.

Jury disenfranchisement is unnecessary and serves no legitimate purpose. People with felony convictions are as capable of serving as jurors as any other group of citizens. And New York law already provides for individualized screening of prospective jurors in civil trials and criminal trials. Under the current law, the only way for people with felony convictions to apply for restoration of their jury eligibility is through a process that is intrusive and burdensome. Few New Yorkers with felony convictions ever see their jury service rights restored.

I urge you to put your full support behind the Jury of Our Peers Bill S.206 (Cleare) /A.1432 (Aubry) to safeguard democratic principles and restore the right of people with felony convictions to serve on juries.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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End Jury Disenfranchisement in New York

Act Now

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