NY State Court System Sheds Blind Juror Discrimination Claims (1)

A Manhattan federal judge dismissed a lawsuit alleging the New York State court system discriminates against blind prospective jurors.

Plaintiff Emeline Lakrout, who alleged she was excused from jury duty because she’s legally blind, doesn’t have standing “because, based on her own allegations, an intervening act of independent judicial discretion by a non-party broke the causal chain between” the court system and Lakrout’s alleged injury, said Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The state trial court clearly explored whether Lakrout could be accommodated but ruled that the nature of the ...