New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 13 (2026)

Right to serve on juries

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 13. Right to serve on juries. No citizen of the state possessing all
other qualifications which are or may be required or prescribed by law,
shall be disqualified to serve as a grand or petit juror in any court of
this state on account of race, creed, color, national origin or sex, and
any person charged with any duty in the selection or summoning of jurors
who shall exclude or fail to summon any citizen for any of the causes
aforesaid shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor and be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than
five hundred dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days, nor more
than ninety days, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 22 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1988–2026 · leading case: People v. Wells, 850 N.E.2d 637 (NY 2006).

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People v. Wells, 850 N.E.2d 637 (NY 2006). · cites it 2× “[1] In New York, service on a grand or petit jury is a civil right that cannot be arbitrarily denied (NY Const, art I, § 1; Civil Rights Law § 13 ["No citizen of the state possessing all other qualifications which are or may be required or prescribed by law, shall be…”

People v. Hecker, 942 N.E.2d 248 (NY 2010). “Jury service is a civil right, rooted in our State Constitution and protected by statute (NY Const, art I, §§ 1, 11; Civil Rights Law § 13). Both “a privilege and duty of citizenship,” jury service is “a fundamental means of participating in government” (Allen, 86 NY2d at 108 ;…”

People v. Bridgeforth, 69 N.E.3d 611 (NY 2016). “Specifically, this provision states that “[n]o citizen of the state possessing all other qualifications which are or may be required or prescribed by law, shall be disqualified to serve as a grand or petit juror in any court of this state on account of race, creed, color,…”

People v. James, 784 N.E.2d 1152 (NY 2002). “Moreover, service on a jury is a civil right which cannot be arbitrarily denied (NY Const, art I, § 1; Civil Rights Law § 13; People v Kern, 75 NY2d at 649).”

People v. Allen, 653 N.E.2d 1173 (NY 1995). “Analysis Jury service — a privilege and duty of citizenship — is a civil right established by our Constitution (NY Const, art I, §§ 1, 11; Civil Rights Law § 13) and a fundamental means of participating in government (People v Kern, 75 NY2d 638, 651-652 , supra).”

People v. Kern, 554 N.E.2d 1235 (NY 1990). “*653 Second, the Legislature has expressly declared service on the petit jury to be a civil right, providing in Civil Rights Law § 13 that "[n]o citizen of the state possessing all other qualifications which are or may be required or prescribed by law, shall be disqualified to…”

Holtzman v. Supreme Court, 139 Misc. 2d 109 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1988). · cites it 7× “, supra, at 531), then seeks to base her argument on the wording of Civil Rights Law § 13. The latter section provides as follows: "No citizen of the state possessing all other qualifications which are or may be required or prescribed by law, shall be disqualified to serve as a…”

People v. Gary M., 138 Misc. 2d 1081 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1988). · cites it 3× “Thus, Civil Rights Law § 13 provides that every citizen of this State has the right to serve as a juror without consideration of race.”

People v. Bolling, 79 N.Y.2d 317 (NY 1992). “Indeed, jury service —a "privilege [and duty] of citizenship” — is a civil right established by our State Constitution (NY Const, art I, §§ 1, 11; Civil Rights Law § 13) and a means of participating in government (People v Kern, supra, at 651-652 ).”

People v. Kern, 149 A.D.2d 187 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989). “Civil Rights Law § 13 also provides that "[n]o citizen of the state possessing all other qualifications which are or may be required or prescribed by law, shall be disqualified to serve as a * * * petit juror in any court of this state on account of race”.”

People v. Taylor, 2020 NY Slip Op 3807 (N.Y. App. Div. 2020). “"Jury service is a civil right, rooted in our State Constitution and protected by statute" ( People v Hecker , 15 NY3d 625, 649 ; see NY Const, art I, §§ 1, 11; Civil Rights Law § 13). "Both a privilege and duty of citizenship,' jury service is a fundamental means of…”

Robar v. LaBuda, 84 A.D.3d 129 (N.Y. App. Div. 2011). · cites it 2× “To be sure, “|j]ury service — a privilege and duty of citizenship — is a civil right established by our Constitution (NY Const, art I, §§ 1, 11; Civil Rights Law § 13)” (People v Allen, 86 NY2d 101, 108 [1995]; see People v Hecker, 15 NY3d at 649 ; People v Kern, 75 NY2d at…”

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