Jury Duty Pilot Program Suspended

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jury Duty Pilot Program Suspended
Program that increased juror compensation to be paused indefinitely

Oakland, Calif. – June 5, 2025 – A pilot program providing jurors with $100 per day compensation and enhanced mileage benefits is being paused after the Judicial Council of California (JCC) notified the Court that the increased rates will no longer be funded by the state.

In a notice to the seven superior courts participating in the pilot, the JCC requested that each court suspend the pilot and return to the standard juror compensation of $15 a day and $0.34 per mile for roundtrip travel to and from the courthouse. The notice indicated that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Revise Budget cut funding for the program.

The Superior Court of Alameda County suspended the program today.

“We share the disappointment of our justice partners who had hoped this study would provide insight into how increased compensation could diversify jury pools,” said Alameda County Superior Court Presiding Judge Thomas Nixon. “Jurors are an essential part of our judicial system, and we need to do all we can to increase participation.

The Jury Pilot Program was created as part of AB1981 which passed the State Legislature and was signed by Newsom in 2022. The state set aside $27 million for the pilot. The program was intended to determine if higher juror compensation would lead to more diverse jury pools.

The National Center for State Courts was tracking juror demographics in all seven counties and was scheduled to release a report at the conclusion of the study. The status of that report is currently unknown given the program is ending less than halfway through its designed length.

Jurors currently serving on a trial will continue to receive $100 per day compensation and $0.67 per mile for travel to and from the courthouse. Any jurors selected after June 4, 2025, will receive the normal $15 a day and $0.34 per mile compensation.

Please visit the Judicial Council website for additional information about this program.

Anyone with questions or concerns about this program being suspended can contact the Judicial Council at: JuryInfo@jud.ca.gov.

Click here for a .pdf copy of this press release.

Contact:
Paul T. Rosynsky
Public Information Officer
510-627-4770