Ohio May Exempt Amish
The Amish in Ohio would be excused from jury service for religious reasons under a bill sent to Gov. Bob Taft (R) for his approval.
The Amish shun judging others under their faith, and the majority don't register to vote because Ohio courts pick prospective jurors from lists of registered voters or licensed drivers. The Amish also don't drive, and studies put Amish voter participation at less than 10 percent.
Those who do vote typically vote Republican, and the bill's creators acknowledge its intent to encourage more Amish to register to vote.
"They're being disenfranchised from their voting rights because of concerns about jury duty," said state Rep. Tim Grendell (R), who inserted the provision in a larger jury service bill. His district includes a sizable Amish settlement east of Cleveland.
Ohio judges routinely release Amish who cite religious principles when they are called for jury duty, Geauga County Common Pleas Judge Forrest Burt said. Most often, he said, the Amish quote Matthew 7:1 -- "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
But taking the decision to excuse a juror out of judges' hands and putting it into law would raise concerns about whether other groups would seek blanket exemptions, said Donna Childers, legislative activities coordinator for the Ohio Judicial Conference.
About 40,000 Amish live in Ohio, the most of any state.
-- Associated Press
