Jury ACCESS Act of 2025

The Jury ACCESS Act of 2025 would expand federal law governing jury service by prohibiting the exclusion of individuals from serving on federal juries based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Specifically, it amends Title 28 of the U.S. Code (section 1862) to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the category already protected (sex). The bill is titled the Jury ACCESS Act of 2025 and was introduced in the Senate with a group of sponsors, and it would apply to federal juries, aiming to ensure more inclusive juries and prevent discrimination in who can serve. In practical terms, the bill shifts federal juror eligibility practice to ensure that people are not disqualified from jury service solely because of their LGBT status. It does not, in the text provided, spell out enforcement mechanisms or penalties, but it creates a statutory standard that federal jury administrators, judges, and others must follow when selecting jurors.