INDIANAPOLIS — Jurors will now be paid double the current amount for performing their civic duty thanks to a bill authored by State Rep. Michelle Davis (R-Whiteland).
The current daily pay for jurors, which has remained unchanged for 25 years is below the minimum wage at $40 daily. 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 also increases 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. “This increase is long overdue and my hope is to see more Hoosiers participate in this critical process.”
The new law also raises 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.
House Enrolled Act 1466 will go into effect on July 1.
Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, on the House floor in January 2022. Her bill would raise jury duty pay for the first time in 25 years. Courtesy— Indiana House Republicans.
