Juror Compensation in America

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Juror per diem pay for jury duty... state-by-state

Since the early 1990s, many states have increased the amount jurors are compensated for their services… with Arizona and Oklahoma having provided an innovative "Lengthy Trial Fund". As a result, much of the information about jury duty compensation on the Internet is outdated and inaccurate. We decided to try rectifying this.

While we originally intended to refer only to statutes, often they could not be found on some government websites in which case our links go to their FAQ page (if any) or ‘juror handbook’ page (if any). According then, for those which had juror information, all the per diem rates listed below are believed current and the hyperlinks refer only to official documentation.

Still, a curiosity remains… locating the statutes about jury duty within these government websites was often difficult and, in several cases, no information could be found at all. It would seem, therefore, some states are demonstrating their belief the jury system is not an integral part of government. Yet, juries are the pillars of justice and, in turn, justice the pillar of good government.

"I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution." Thomas Jefferson

Juror compensation as of January 26, 2010

NOTE: While these compensation rates apply to trial jurors, in most cases they also apply to grand jurors... (click on the individual state links for any further information). The following links go only to official government agencies, state bar associations or legal document providers such as LexisNexis and Westlaw.

Alabama - $10/day plus 5 cents mileage… see Section 12-19-210

Alaska - $25/day (plus mileage as allowed state employees)… see Rule 14

Arizona - $12/day (plus mileage as allowed state employees)… see ARS 21-221 Also see Arizona's Lengthy Trial Fund which provides $40-$300/day after 4th day

Arkansas - $50/day (mileage unknown)... see New Laws of Interest

California - $15/day (after 1st day) plus 34 cents mileage... see Code of Civil Procedure (then scroll down to section 215)

Colorado - $50/day (after 3rd day- employers pay the first three) plus unspecified mileage... see Jury/FAQs

Connecticut - $50/day (after 5th day) (no mileage except will reimburse part-time or unemployed jurors for any expenses prior)... see Section 51-247

Delaware - $20/day after 1st day (no mileage)... see Title 10-4514

District of Columbia - $30/day if not paid by employer (plus $2 travel subsidy)... see Title 15, Chapter 7, 15-718 (choose this title and chapter from the list of codes)

Florida - $15/day first 3 days if not paid by employer, $30/day thereafter (no mileage)... see Title 5, chapter 40.24

Georgia - Varies among counties (no information on the state website, check the website of your county)

Hawaii - $30/day plus 33 cents mileage... see FAQ

Idaho - $10/day plus mileage (mileage rate varies by county)... see Jury and Jurors

Illinois - $4 to $40/day (varies among counties) plus 10 cents mileage... see Sec. 4-11001

Indiana - $40/day (mileage varies among counties - find county website links at About Jury Duty)

Iowa - $30/day first 7 days, $50 thereafter (plus reimbursement for mileage & parking costs)... see Jury Service-FAQ

Kansas - Unknown-believed varies between counties (see You and the Courts for what little info the state provides)

Kentucky - $12.50/day (mileage not specified) - see Jury Duty

Louisiana - No information found - (the following provided by visitor) From the 19th Judicial District, East Baton Rouge Parish, Baton Rouge Louisiana dated July 7, 2008: "People on jury duty for state court and people serving on state grand juries are paid $12 a day and for their mileage to and from home." (16 cents mileage) People selected for state petit juries get $25 a day and mileage, according to the Jury Management Office. Federal grand jurors and petit jurors are paid $40 a day and mileage for each day they report for service whether they serve on a jury or not. They also are reimbursed for parking.

Maine - $10/day plus 15 cents mileage... see Title 14, §1215

Maryland - $15-30/day (varies between counties; mileage, if any, unknown)... see Jury Service

Massachusetts - $50/day after 3rd day (no mileage), employer must pay the first three days... see Brief Description

Michigan - $25 first day, $40 thereafter (mileage, if any, unknown)... see Public Act 739

Minnesota - $10/day plus 27 cents mileage... see FAQ

Mississippi - No information found on the state government website

Missouri - Varies from $6/day to $50 after 2nd day (by city/county) plus varying mileage rates... see Chapter 494, Section 494.455

Montana - No information found on the state government website

Nebraska - $35/day (mileage unclear)... see Section 33-138

Nevada - $40/day plus 36.5 cents mileage and meal allowance... see NRS 6.150

New Hampshire - $20/day plus 20 cents mileage... see Title LI, Chapter 500-A

New Jersey - $5/day first 3 days, $40 thereafter (no mileage)... see Juror Basics

New Mexico - minimum wage plus 32 cents mileage... go to Mileage and compensation for jurors (which states: "Persons summoned for jury service and jurors shall be reimbursed for travel from their place of actual residence to the courthouse when their attendance is ordered, at the rate allowed public officers and employees per mile of necessary travel. Persons summoned for jury service and jurors shall be compensated for their time in travel, attendance and service at the highest prevailing state minimum wage rate.")

New York - $40/day (mileage unclear)... see Judiciary Law 521 (pdf)

North Carolina - $12 first day, $20 next 4 days, $40 thereafter (no mileage)... see FAQ

North Dakota - $25 first day and $50 thereafter plus 45 cents mileage... see North Dakota Juror's Handbook

Ohio - compensation varies among counties (set by Board of County Commissioners)

Oklahoma - $20/day plus mileage as set by the State Travel Reimbursement Act (plus parking allowance)... see Oklahoma Statutes then select Title 28-Fees (§28-86-Jurors’ fees). It also includes information on their Lengthy Trial Fund which provides up to $50/day beginning 4th day, up to $200/day after 10th day)

Oregon - $10 first 2 days, $25 thereafter plus 8-20 cents mileage... see 10.061

Pennsylvania - $9/day the first 3 days, $25 thereafter (plus unspecified mileage)... see First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (then click 'jury service')

Rhode Island - $15/day (mileage, if any, unknown)... see Title 9, Section 9-29-5

South Carolina - $2-12/day (varies among counties as well as mileage)... see 14-7-1370

South Dakota - $50/day plus 37 cents mileage as set by South Dakota’s Unified Judicial System... see Jury Duty

Tennessee - $10/day minimum (counties may pay more) plus 10 cents mileage see Tennessee Code (then go to Title 22-Juries and Jurors)

Texas - $6/day min to $50/day max (rate and mileage varies among counties)... see Compensation

Utah - $18.50 the first day, $49 thereafter (plus 25 cents mileage)... see Jury Service

Vermont - $15-30/day (mileage, if any, unknown)... see Jury Information Page

Virginia - $30/day (no mileage)... see 17.1-618

Washington - $10/day min, $25 max (varies among counties and mileage, if any, unknown)... see Washington Courts then search for 'jury duty', then select Washington State Courts - Welcome to Jury Duty

West Virginia - $40/day plus unspecified mileage... see Administrative Order

Wisconsin - $16/day minimum (counties may pay more and mileage, if any, unknown)... see State Bar of Wisconsin

Wyoming - $40/day plus 50 cents mileage... see US District Court - District of Wyoming

NOTE: For U.S. district courts, U.S. courts of appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court, the juror compensation rate is $40/day plus mileage (w/other provisions)... see FAQ (federal judiciary website)

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Also see The Arizona County Grand Jury
Also see Understanding Freedom… man's conceptual paradox

Last modified: 06/22/10