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Judiciary wants to
remove jury restrictions,
increase pay

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Star-Bulletin staff

The governor and other elected officials may be among those serving on juries if the state Judiciary gets its way.

The Judiciary is pushing a bill that would remove exemptions to jury service which now apply to state department heads, elected officials, judges, priests, police officers and others. Exemptions would still apply to jurors who served within the year.

At the same time, the Judiciary seeks to increase the daily pay for jurors from $30 to $40, the amount paid by the federal courts. The last increase in juror fees was in 1986, when they were raised from $20 to $30. Another proposal would increase the mileage reimbursement from 33 cents to 37 cents per mile.

"Although jurors tell us they enjoyed being on a jury, people summoned for jury service have to cancel appointments, rearrange schedules and miss work," said Michael Broderick, administrative director of the courts. "We want to minimize the inconveniences and hardships jurors face so that the public will be willing and eager to serve when asked to perform this important civic duty."