# Plain Language Summary: Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act

Right now, federal courts can exclude people from serving on juries simply because they have a disability or are a certain age. This bill would change that by making it illegal to automatically disqualify someone from jury duty based on disability or age alone. Instead of assuming someone can't serve because of their disability, courts would have to figure out whether reasonable accommodations could allow them to participate.

The bill makes two key changes to federal law. First, it adds disability and age to the list of protected characteristics—meaning courts can't discriminate based on these factors the same way they can't discriminate based on race, religion, or national origin. Second, it changes how courts evaluate whether someone is qualified to serve. Currently, courts can reject jurors for "infirmity" without much explanation. The new law would require courts to only exclude someone if their disability truly cannot be reasonably accommodated. For example, if someone uses a wheelchair, the court would need to provide accessible seating rather than automatically dismissing them. If someone is deaf, the court would need to provide an interpreter rather than assuming they can't do the job.

This matters because it expands who gets to participate in the justice system. People with disabilities and older Americans would have the same opportunity to serve on juries as anyone else, assuming reasonable accommodations can be made. It also means juries would be more representative of the communities they serve, which many argue makes the justice system fairer for everyone involved in a case.