Deaf News: Profoundly deaf man uses lipreading and stenographers to serve as juror

A deaf man from London has used lipreading and courtroom stenographers to serve as a juror in a crown court trial in England and Wales.

Matthew Johnson, a cochlear implant user, became a juror after officials and the judge were convinced of his ability to do so without hindrance.

Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Johnson said he feels “great that I can be one of a jury”.

“It’s all about inclusivity, isn’t it? It’s a big thing for me.

“We don’t want to turn our backs to society, we want to be part of society. We want to feel included,” he said.

At present, deaf jurors who would require British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters in order to serve have been excused from jury service, with common law prohibiting a “13th person” or “stranger” from entering the jury deliberation room.

In 1999, a request by a BSL user to reconsider them being automatically excused from jury service was rejected, with the judge saying allowing an interpreter into the jury room would amount to an “incurable irregularity”.

In a statement to the Guardian newspaper, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said “every effort is made” to ensure those with hearing loss can serve on juries.

“We are harnessing technology like hearing loops and computer-aided transcription services to improve accessibility even further,” they said.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and blogger from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.

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Update: This article has since been corrected following reports that other profoundly deaf people have previously served as jurors.