A recent initiative to enhance jury pool diversity in California by offering jurors increased pay has been abruptly halted. The Judicial Council of California (JCC) has instructed seven superior courts involved in the program to suspend operations due to budget cuts, according to the Alameda County Superior Court's website. The pilot program increased daily juror compensation to $100 and provided a higher mileage reimbursement rate, but it will now revert to the previous rate of $15 per day and $0.34 per mile.
The enhanced pay initiative, started under AB1981 and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022, was supported by a $27 million allotment from the state budget. However, the governor's May Revise Budget eliminated the funding for this program. Initiated to gather valuable insights, cut after less than half its intended duration, the program left participating courts and justice partners grappling with the abrupt stop. The JCC's notice ended this study, which was monitoring whether higher compensation could bring more diversity into the jury box.
The Superior Court of Alameda County, one of the seven participating courts, expressed disappointment with the suspension. Presiding Judge Thomas Nixon said, "We share the disappointment of our justice partners who had hoped this study would provide insight into how increased compensation could diversify jury pools." He continued, "Jurors are an essential part of our judicial system, and we need to do all we can to increase participation." Despite the setback, Nixon emphasizes the importance of jury inclusivity for the judicial process.
