California Gov. Jerry Brown has turned aside a legislative attempt to let noncitizens serve on juries in state cases.
Mr. Brown, a Democrat, vetoed the bill Monday, calling it in conflict with constitutional definitions of citizenship.
“Jury service, like voting, is quintessentially a prerogative and responsibility of citizenship,” Mr. Brown said in a statement about his veto decision, The Associated Press reported. “This bill would permit lawful permanent residents who are not citizens to serve on a jury. I don’t think that’s right.”
The bill had passed by party line vote in the Democrat-controlled legislature. The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski, had argued that immigrants who are permanent U.S. residents should be allowed to take part in all the activities of a community — even if they’ve not accepted America as their choice of citizenship.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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