Bill > S02491

This bill amends the New York criminal procedure law to prohibit the use of peremptory challenges (the ability to remove potential jurors without providing a specific reason) based on a juror's race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Under the proposed law, if a party believes a peremptory challenge is being used improperly, they can object before the jury is impaneled. When such an objection is made, the party who issued the challenge must provide their reasons for the challenge, and the court will evaluate these reasons considering the totality of the circumstances. If the court determines that the juror's protected characteristics played a role in the challenge, the objection will be sustained and the challenge defeated. Importantly, the court does not need to find purposeful discrimination to sustain the objection and must explain its ruling on the record. The bill will take effect 180 days after becoming law and will apply to all jury selections commenced after that date, representing a significant effort to reduce potential bias in jury selection.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2491