A Bill To Stop The Discrimination Against LGBT Jurors

Details: Published on Friday, 04 May 2012 16:25; Written by E-Li

Jury

In most states of United States, LGBT people cannot be juror but that could change thanks to the bill introduced by Senator Scott Dibble of Minnesota.

Except California and Oregon, the US states prevent LGBT people from being juror.

Minnesota state Senator Scott Dibble is fighting to change that. He introduced a bill earlier this year that would add sexual orientation and marital status to the list of categories for which jurors cannot be dismissed in his state. Minnesota law currently bars discrimination in jury selection based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, economic status, or a physical or sensory disability as reports The American Independent.

"This affects people’s lives," Dibble told The American Independent. "LGBT people provide important perspectives in terms of jury duty," he said.

"Being specifically excluded because [of the statute of sexual orientation] flies vis-a-vis the values which all the American share," said Dibble. He adds that this law would also protect the transgenders.

For Dibble, the issue raises the concern that people may not get a fair trial. He argues that if jurors can be dismissed for being gay or lesbian, then people accused of crimes are "not being judged by their peers."