Exclusion of jurors on account of race or color
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
No citizen possessing all other qualifications which are or may be prescribed by law shall be disqualified for service as grand or petit juror in any court of the United States, or of any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude; and whoever, being an officer or other person charged with any duty in the selection or summoning of jurors, excludes or fails to summon any citizen for such cause, shall be fined not more than $5,000.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 696 (PDF, 39 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime for an official responsible for selecting or summoning jurors to exclude or fail to summon a qualified citizen because of race, color, or past status as a slave. This applies to juries in both federal and state courts, including grand juries and trial juries.