This bill mandates that jurors serving in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia receive the same compensation rates as jurors in United States district courts.
Eleanor Norton
Representative
DC
The District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act ensures that jurors serving in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia receive the same compensation and expense reimbursements as those serving in United States district courts. This legislation aims to establish pay equity for local jurors by aligning D.C. rates with federal standards.
DC Juror Pay Parity Act Boosts Daily Compensation to Match Federal Rates Starting Next Fiscal Year
The District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act aims to fix a long-standing wage gap in the local justice system by syncing the pay for DC Superior Court jurors with the rates paid to federal jurors. Under Section 2, anyone summoned for grand or petit jury duty in DC’s local court will receive the same fees and expense reimbursements currently set for U.S. District Court jurors under federal law (28 U.S.C. 1871). This move essentially eliminates the 'discount' local jurors have been forced to accept compared to their neighbors serving in the federal building down the street.
Closing the Civic Pay Gap
Right now, serving on a jury can feel like a financial hit, especially for hourly workers or freelancers. By repealing Section 15-718 of the DC Official Code and tying local pay to the federal standard—which is currently $50 per day—the bill ensures that your time is valued equally regardless of which court you’re assigned to. For a retail manager or a gig worker, this bump helps cover the real-world costs of showing up, like transit or a quick lunch, making it easier for a broader range of residents to participate in the legal process without checking their bank accounts first.
Timeline and Budget Realities
While the bill is straightforward, the changes won't happen overnight. The new pay rates are scheduled to kick in on the first day of the first fiscal year after the Act is signed into law. This delay gives the District government time to adjust its budget, as the primary trade-off here is a higher administrative cost for the city. While the bill provides much-needed parity for the individual, the DC government will need to account for the increased expenditure required to fund these higher daily fees across thousands of jurors annually.