I was reading the News and Observer this morning over breakfast and saw this story about jury selection in a Wake County murder case. The thrust of the story will not surprise anyone who has ever tried a lengthy case: At a time when many families are feeling pinched by the recession, prosecutors and defense lawyers have had difficulty finding jurors for the four to six weeks [the trial is expected to last]. . . . [T]he judge has heard many claims of financial hardship from men and women who fear being out of the office and off the job for at least a month. The story briefly mentions the compensation that is provided to jurors, but it made me realize how little I know about juror compensation. So I researched it a bit. Here's what I found. Basic Rule. Under G.S. 7A-312, jurors "shall receive [$12] for the first day of service and [$20] per day afterwards, except that if any person serves as a juror for more than five days in any 24‑month period, the juror shall receive [$40] per day for each day of service in excess of five days." The statute contains special provisions for sequestered jurors, and a different rate of compensation for grand jurors. Comparison with Other Jurisdictions. This web page purports to list the juror compensation schemes in place in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and the broader federal court system, all current as of January 1, 2011. It's accurate as [...]
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