Case: Elia v. New York State Unified Court System
1:25-cv-01645 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Filed Date: March 25, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
On March 25, 2025, Plaintiffs National Federation of the Blind of New York State (NFBNY) and an individual (collectively, “NFBNY”) filed this civil-rights action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, challenging the New York State Unified Court System’s alleged systemic discrimination against blind individuals summoned for jury duty. Plaintiffs, represented by Disability Rights Advocates and private counsel, claimed that blind jurors were routinely excluded from full participation in jury service or denied reasonable accommodations, in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the New York Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. NFBNY sued the New York State Unified Court System and the County Clerk and Clerk of the Supreme Court and Commissioner of Jurors, County of Kings (collectively, the “New York”), seeking declaratory and injunctive relief and fees.
The complaint alleged that the individual plaintiff who is blind, reported for grand jury service in Kings County in October 2024, but the presiding judge and prosecutors refused to permit him to use assistive technology, denied his requests for verbal descriptions of visual evidence, and ultimately barred him from deliberating on any case involving photographic or videographic evidence. NFBNY alleged organizational standing on behalf of blind New Yorkers who are eligible for jury service and risk similar exclusion.
The case was assigned to Judge Lashann DeArcy Hall. As of December 1, 2025, no dispositive motions have been resolved, and the case remains in active discovery and pre-trial management before Judge Hall.
Summary Authors
Kerry Holihan (12/1/2025)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69787306/parties/elia-v-new-york-state-unified-court-system/
Reyes, Ramon E. (New York)
Pilger, Victoria Jean (New York)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69787306/elia-v-new-york-state-unified-court-system/
Last updated March 30, 2026, 4:38 a.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 25, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Blind individual excluded from meaningful jury service and state affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind alleging systemic disability discrimination in jury-service accommodations.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
State
New York State Unified Court System
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Eastern District of New York 1:25-cv-01645
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Disability and Disability Rights:
Case Summary of Elia v. New York State Unified Court System, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/46539/ (last updated 12/1/2025).