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# Lone Democrat Against Non-Citizen Jury Service: "I Will Vote My District"
- URL: https://ivn.us/lone-democrat-against-non-citizen-jury-service-i-will-vote-my-district/
- Published: 2013-05-01T13:01:24.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-22T19:38:27.000Z
- Author: 420 Times
- Tags: News

credit: adamgrayforassembly.com

![Adam Gray Talking to Constituents](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/02/lone-democrat-against-non-citizen-jury-service-i-will-vote-my-district-75355.jpg)

SACRAMENTO - The California Assembly passed AB 1401 by a vote of 45-26 last week. The bill would make California the first state to allow non-citizen jury service by immigrants residing in the country legally. The bill was passed largely on a party-line vote, with only one Democrat voting against the measure. The lone Democrat is freshman Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-AD21), representing California's Central Valley, which includes Merced, Patterson, and Newman; a region known for its agriculture and its independent politics.

Although AB 1401 passed without serious opposition, Gray's lone "No" vote should not go unnoticed. There were 8 members of the assembly that did not vote on the bill -- all Democrats. These members include Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), Tom Daly (D-Anaheim), Steve Fox (D-Los Angeles), Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys), Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), and Rudy Salas Jr. (D-Bakersfield).

Gray could have abstained from voting against his party and the result would have been the same. But, in a political era defined by partisanship, the freshman assemblyman may have, knowingly or not, made a larger statement with his vote.

In a phone interview, I asked Gray a few questions about his vote:

**Why did you vote against the rest of your party on AB 1401, the Non-Citizen Jury Service Bill, even though it was sure to pass?**

*I didn’t go into the vote under the lens of party politics. I reviewed the bill with my office and I believe there is a lot we can do with respect to immigration. We can be a more inclusive society and offer more opportunity to immigrants, but serving on a jury is a privilege that comes with citizenship. What was most disturbing is that the debate on the Assembly floor revolved around the “burden” of jury service. I believe that jury service is a privilege. Allowing non-citizens to serve on a jury to satisfy the burden of service demeans that privilege. I vote my district and I vote my conscious. So I voted No.*

**Why do you think all your follow Democrats voted in favor of the Bill?**

*I don’t want to speculate too much on why they cast their vote. I was the only Democrat to vote no, but I know some other Democrats abstained. I know why I voted ...* *My position is that it’s a privilege and an honor to serve on a jury and should remain that way.*

**What, if anything, do you gain politically by opposing the bill?**

*I think I gain the support of my constituency. Not only was there feedback in my district, but some of the strongest and most robust feedback I have had since I took office.*

*Just last weekend, I attended 9 or 10 events in various communities around the district. At each event, I had at least 5 people thank me for having the courage to take a vote against my party. I got this sentiment from across party-lines. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all thanked me. Even a judge took the time to thank me for my vote. I received very positive feedback. In the 4 or 5 communities I visited, I didn't received one negative comment about my vote.*

Those familiar with the Central Valley know its history of independent politicians willing to go buck partisanship for the good of their community.

On that note, I asked Gray what he though about Republican Senator Anthony Cannella's (R-Ceres) 'Realignment Reinvestment Act' ([SB 144](http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill%5Fid=201320140SB144&search%5Fkeywords=&ref=ivn.us)). The bill, [voted down in committee](https://ivn.us/california/2013/04/30/bill-to-help-counties-deal-with-influx-of-prisoners-dies-in-committee/) earlier this week, would have directly linked state funding to the number of increased criminals in each county due to California's prison realignment.

"Canella's district overlaps a lot of my district and I think Canella is a great senator," Gray responded. "The Central Valley often finds itself drawing the short-stick when it comes to allocating resources throughout our state. I am supportive of any effort by Canella, or anyone else, who tries and make funding more equitable."