The Sixth and Seventh Amendments to the U.S. Constitution grants all individuals in criminal and civil cases the right to a trial by a jury of our peers.  However, in the State of New York, those peers can't consist of those who've served their time.  Regardless of the circumstances of one's arrest or the time since their sentence, if they were ever convicted of a felony, they are legally banned from serving on juries.  This lifetime ban, based on unfair perceived biases and presumptions of immorality, is not just a constitutional violation of equal citizenship, but a reinforcement of already existing racial disparities in our prison system.

In 2024, the New York State Legislature passed the Jury of Our Peers Act, a bill that would have removed the lifetime ban on jury duty for convicted felons as long as they complete their sentencing requirements.  However, Governor Hochul vetoed the bill, much to the dismay of the New York State Bar Association and the New York Civil Liberties Union, citing "technical" and "operational" challenges.  Governor Hochul didn't clarify as to what she meant by this.

We strongly urge the New York State Legislature to re-pass the Jury of Our Peers Act during their next session and for Governor Hochul to sign the bill.  The link to the Jury of Our Peers Act draft for the 2025-2026 Legislative Session is at the bottom.  Repealing the jury ban would encourage ex-felons to redeem themselves and would allow for more fair, equal representation in our criminal justice system.  Please sign the petition and demand change: because liberty and justice applies to all: not just those with a squeaky clean record!

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2240/amendment/A