April 10, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 62 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LOCAL JUROR NON-DISCRIMINATION 
                              ACT OF 2019

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 10, 2019

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the District of 
Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2019. This bill would 
clarify that D.C. residents may not be excluded or disqualified from 
jury service in the D.C. Superior Court based on sexual orientation or 
gender identity. Specifically, my bill would clarify that ``sex,'' 
which is a protected class under the non-discrimination law that 
currently applies to local D.C. jurors, includes sexual orientation and 
gender identity. Under the Home Rule Act, Congress has exclusive 
jurisdiction over Title 11 of the D.C. Code (relating to organization 
and jurisdiction of the local D.C. courts).
  The District has one of the strongest non-discrimination laws in the 
country, including protecting individuals based on sexual orientation 
and gender identity. However, under the Home Rule Act, the District 
does not have the authority to make this non-discrimination law 
applicable to local jurors. Therefore, until the District is given 
complete control over the jurisdiction and organization of its local 
courts, an act of Congress is required to make this important change to 
protect the rights of all D.C. residents. I will soon be introducing a 
bill to give the District local control of its courts. In the meantime, 
however, the District of Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 
2019 is necessary to protect D.C. jurors from discrimination.
  My bill is based on H.R. 874, the Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 
2019 (H.R. 874), which would make the same changes to federal jury law. 
I am a proud original cosponsor of that bill.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

                          ____________________