Op-Ed: An Open Letter to Governor Pritzker: Sign HB 4844 and Strengthen Access to Justice for All Illinoisans
Dear Governor Pritzker,
The Illinois NAACP respectfully urges you to sign HB 4844, legislation that would require employers with more than 25 employees to compensate workers at their regular rate of pay while serving on jury duty.
At its core, this bill is about fairness, civic participation, and ensuring equal access to justice.
Jury service is one of the most important responsibilities in our democracy. Citizens sitting in judgment of facts and evidence help safeguard constitutional rights and maintain public confidence in our legal system. Yet for many Illinoisans, especially working-class families, hourly employees, and those living paycheck to paycheck, fulfilling that civic duty can create significant financial hardship.
No resident should have to choose between serving on a jury and paying rent, buying groceries, or keeping the lights on.
Unfortunately, that is the reality many Illinoisans face today. While the law protects workers from being fired for serving on a jury, it does not protect them from losing income. Current juror compensation in many counties is simply inadequate. For workers already struggling to make ends meet, even a few days without a paycheck can have serious consequences.
The burden falls disproportionately on communities that have historically faced economic barriers, including many African American families and other underserved populations. As a result, too many prospective jurors seek hardship exemptions, fail to appear, or are effectively excluded from service because they cannot afford to participate.
This has consequences beyond the individual worker.
When jury service becomes financially inaccessible, jury pools become less representative of the communities they are meant to serve. The perspectives of working people, lower-income residents, and diverse racial and ethnic communities are underrepresented, while those with greater financial flexibility are more likely to serve.
A truly fair justice system requires juries that reflect the full diversity of Illinois.
The NAACP has long advocated for equal access to institutions that affect the lives of our citizens. The jury box is one of those institutions. It is where ordinary people exercise extraordinary responsibility. It is where justice is strengthened by diverse voices and lived experiences.
HB 4844 takes a practical and balanced approach. The legislation recognizes concerns raised by small businesses by exempting employers with 25 or fewer employees. At the same time, it removes a significant barrier that prevents many working Illinoisans from participating in our justice system.
The benefits are clear. The legislation will reduce hardship requests, improve jury participation, create more representative juries, and strengthen public confidence in court outcomes. It will help ensure that jury service is accessible to all citizens—not only those who can afford to miss work.
Governor Pritzker, Illinois has an opportunity to demonstrate that civic participation should not be limited by economic circumstance. Every citizen deserves the opportunity to fulfill their civic duty without suffering financial hardship.
For the sake of fairness, representation, and equal justice under law, I respectfully urge you to sign HB 4844.
Sincerely,
Theodis Pace, President of Illinois NAACP State Conference
Op-Ed: An Open Letter to Governor Pritzker: Sign HB 4844 and Strengthen Access to Justice for All Illinoisans
