Deaf Woman Serves on Minnesota Jury

A deaf Rochester, MN woman broke new ground for the local courts when she recently served as a juror on a criminal case. Karen Smith is believed to be the first deaf person to sit on a jury in Olmsted County, MN and among a handful to serve on a panel anywhere in the state, according to a story in the Post-Bulletin of Rochester.

When summoned for jury duty in the past, not aware that sign language interpreters were available, Smith always asked to be excused because of her deafness, . When she received a jury notice in March, however, she didn't ask to be excused, but instead simply advised the court she is deaf.

All necessary arrangements were made, and when she arrived for jury selection two interpreters were waiting for her. By all indications the process, although requiring a little extra effort, went very well. The court systems strive to give all citizens the opportunity to serve, and Mrs. Smith was happy to take advantage of that opportunity. Read the full story by Janice Gregorson here.

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