VISUALLY impaired Jamaicans should no longer be shut out of jury service, Senator Floyd Morris asserted last Friday, arguing that modern technology has made their full participation not only possible but long overdue.

Morris, who is visually impaired, used his contribution to the debate on amendments to the Jury Act in the Senate to challenge long-standing legal provisions that exclude some persons with disabilities from serving on juries. He framed the issue as one of rights, inclusion and modernisation, noting that Jamaica has already committed internationally to ensuring equal treatment for persons with disabilities.

“I look at the legislation, which is the Jury Act, and as I looked at it I took note that some persons with disabilities are excluded from participating in the process, and I asked myself, ‘Why?’ and I tried to get some answers from individuals who are involved with the justice system,” Morris said, questioning the basis for those restrictions.

He pointed to the country’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, particularly provisions dealing with equality before the law and access to justice. Against that backdrop, he argued that elements of Jamaica’s justice framework have not kept pace with evolving standards.

To reinforce his argument, Morris demonstrated how assistive technology can support visually impaired individuals in interpreting their surroundings, which is an issue often cited by critics who question whether people who are blind can effectively assess evidence. Using a mobile application powered by artificial intelligence, he showed how images can be analysed and described in real time.

Morris suggested that technological progress is advancing so rapidly that traditional assumptions about disability may soon become obsolete.

“I envisage that in the next 10 years the concept of blindness is going to be redundant, because the technology already is allowing a blind person to function at a high level in the society — and that is why I want for us to have a forward look towards the legislation and make sure that we include more persons with disabilities in the participation of the justice system,” said Morris.

Moving beyond jury service, the senator widened his critique to highlight barriers faced by persons with disabilities throughout the justice system — from reporting crimes to navigating court proceedings. He called for targeted training for police and judicial staff, including disability awareness and sign language, to ensure equal access to justice.

“The justice system needs to have…a modern look in the context of access to physical buildings for persons with disabilities. Remember, it is not justice for some, it is justice for all, and persons with disabilities must be included. I don’t know what we are waiting on to make sure that our police in the training academy are exposed to how to relate to a person with a disability. How can we ensure that these individuals get exposure to sign language so that when a deaf person goes to the court or to the police station to lodge a complaint, they can accommodate them?” Morris queried. The senator also pushed back at what he described as persistent misconceptions about the capabilities of persons with disabilities, particularly in legal settings.

“I have heard people talking nonsense that a blind person can’t give evidence or can’t be a witness and all of those nonsense, but the fact of the matter is that at every level of the justice system we need to bring greater exposure to individuals who are working in the justice system to be able to relate to persons with disabilities,” Morris declared.

While supporting the proposed amendments to the Jury Act, including an increase in jury fees, Morris argued that further consideration should be given to the realities faced by disabled jurors. He noted that wheelchair users, for instance, often incur higher transportation costs when attending court.

He also highlighted ongoing local efforts to improve accessibility, including collaborative work involving The University of the West Indies and international partners to train justice personnel and develop practical guidelines.