New bill drafted to protect identity of jurors in cases where trial could pose safety threat
Jurors names and addresses are made readily available in state courts, at least for now.
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As the hush money criminal case against former President Donald Trump gets ready to play out in a New York courtroom, a local lawmaker is fighting to change the way similar high-profile cases are tried in the future.
Jurors' names are currently kept anonymous during federal trials. In state courts, however, their names and addresses are made readily available.
The State Senate's Consumer Protection Chairman just drafted a new bill that would protect the identity of jurors when there is reason to believe a trial could pose a threat to their safety.
State Sen. Kevin Thomas told News 12 he's pushing for a floor vote by the end of the month.
"What my bill does is protect the welfare of jurors so they don't have to be scared to sit in the jury box when doing their job," Thomas explained.
Nassau County Democrat Charles Lavine is sponsoring the bill in the State Assembly.
