HR 1537119th CongressIn Committee

District of Columbia Superior Court Jury Duty for Seniors Opt Out Act of 2025

Introduced: Feb 24, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The District of Columbia Superior Court Jury Duty for Seniors Opt Out Act of 2025 would create a new opt-out option for jury service. Specifically, it amends the District of Columbia Official Code to allow individuals who are 70 years of age or older to be excluded from serving on juries in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, upon the individual’s request. In practical terms, this bill gives older residents a formal mechanism to avoid jury duty, by allowing the court to grant an exemption to those who request it. The change is narrowly targeted to add a fifth exemption category for people aged 70 or older. It does not alter other existing exemptions or qualifications for jury service, and it requires a request from the individual to trigger the exemption, with the court determining eligibility on that basis. The bill was introduced in the House as H.R. 1537 and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Key Points

1Title and purpose: The bill is named the District of Columbia Superior Court Jury Duty for Seniors Opt Out Act of 2025, and its purpose is to allow seniors to opt out of jury service.
2Specific legal change: It amends Section 11-1908(b) of the District of Columbia Official Code to add a new exemption (5) for individuals aged 70 or older, to be excluded by the Court upon their request.
3How opt-out works: The exemption is voluntary and requires a request by the individual; the Court would have the discretion to exclude the person if they are 70 or older.
4Scope: Applies specifically to jury service in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
5Legislative status: Introduced in February 2025 by Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (Ms. Norton) and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Residents aged 70 and older in the District of Columbia who may wish to avoid jury duty; they gain a formal opt-out option.Secondary group/area affected- The DC Superior Court system and its jury management processes, which may experience changes in jury pool size and scheduling since one demographic can opt out more readily.Additional impacts- Jury composition and representativeness: allowing opt-out by seniors could affect the demographic mix of juries and potentially influence trial dynamics or deliberations; courts may need to monitor effects on cross-section requirements.- Administrative considerations: courts will need to handle opt-out requests and maintain appropriate records; potential policy implications for other exemptions and for ensuring fair access to jury service.- Constitutional and civil implications: the bill interacts with existing jury trial protections and may warrant consideration of how exemptions affect the Sixth Amendment mandate for a fair jury, though opt-out provisions are already common in various jurisdictions.

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