STATEHOUSE (May 24, 2023) – Jurors will now be paid double the current amount for performing their civic duty thanks to a new law authored by State Rep. Michelle Davis (R-Whiteland).
According to Davis, the current daily pay for jurors, which has remained unchanged for 25 years and is below the minimum wage, is $40. Under this new law, Hoosiers will receive $80 per day for service and the amount will increase to $90 after six days of trial while serving as a juror in a courtroom. It will also increase the pay for prospective jurors from $15 per day to $30 a day.
"This is commonsense legislation to make sure that we are more fairly paying our jurors," Davis said. "Serving as a juror is a civic duty that most Hoosiers will be called upon to do at some point, but many simply can't afford to take off work and pay for transportation under the current rate. This increase is long overdue and my hope is to see more Hoosiers participate in this critical process."
Davis said the new law will also increase the jury fee collected from a defendant from $2 to $6 if they are found to have committed a crime or infraction, or violated an ordinance. Hoosiers who file tort and plenary action lawsuits will also be charged a $75 fee because they use a jury. The revenues generated by these fees will be directed to jury pay.
Davis said she worked with local judicial officials to author the legislation because courts around the state are struggling to get people to serve on juries, which has resulted in judges declaring mistrials.
According to the latest data from the National Center for State Courts, 28 states and the District of Columbia use a flat rate per diem fee, which ranges from $4 to $50 per day and averages around $20.
House Enrolled Act 1466 will go into effect on July 1, 2023. To follow legislation recently signed into law by the governor, visit in.gov/gov/newsroom/2023-bill-watch/.
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State Rep. Michelle Davis (R-Whiteland) represents House District 58,
which includes a portion of Johnson County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
