Jury Administration and Management

 

While jury service is required under state law, the following improvements were designed to reduce the impact on jurors and employees:

  • Juror Per Diems - In 2023, jurors received the first per diem increase since 2000, with mileage increasing to $0.34 per mile traveling to and from service, as well as up to $12 per day for those using public transit.
  • One Day or One Trial - Rule 2.1002 of the California Rules of Court established new terms of service for jurors
  • Model Juror Summons - All 58 trial courts rely on the model summons as a reference for their summonsing practices.
  • Failure to Appear (FTA) Kit - A set of model practices and sample materials developed to assist courts in addressing the issue of jurors' failure to appear for jury service.
  • One-Time Deferral of Jury Service - Under rule 2.1004 of the California Rules of Court, jury commissioners should accommodate a prospective juror's schedule by granting the juror's request for a one-time deferral of jury service.
  • Deferral of Jury Service - Breastfeeding Mother - Under rule 2.1004 of the California Rules of Court, a mother who is breastfeeding a child may request that jury service be deferred for up to one year and may renew that request as long as she is breastfeeding.
  • Jury Data Report (JDR) - Jury managers in each court complete a comprehensive survey about critical components of jury administration.
  • Hardship Excuses - Under rule 2.1008 of the California Rules of Court, jury commissioners must apply uniform standards for hardship excuses
  • Permanent Medical Excuse - Under rule 2.1009 of the California Rules of Court, certain individuals who possess a disability may apply and qualify for a permanent excusal from jury service.
  • Juror Complaints - Section 10.51 of the California Standards of Judicial Administration, encourages implementation of a mechanism for responding to jurors' complaints.
  • National Change of Address system - Section 10.31 of the California Standards of Judical Administration encourages the use of the National Change of Address system to update jury lists.