Minnesota jury duty pay will double on July 5
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - Minnesotans called for jury duty in the state’s district courts will soon get double the daily pay and mileage reimbursement. Starting July 5, the Minnesota Judicial Branch will pay jurors a $20 per diem and reimburse roundtrip mileage at 54 cents per mile.
The increase in compensation will make jury duty slightly less of a financial burden for many Minnesotans. Jurors in Minnesota courts are currently paid $10 per day and reimbursed for mileage at the rate of 27 cents per mile. The increase in juror pay is covered by funding approved during the 2016 legislative session. The $1.5 million annual pool of funding was included in the of the omnibus supplemental budget bill.
In addition to per diem and mileage reimbursement, jurors who are normally caring for their children during the day can be reimbursed for childcare expenses during jury duty, up to $50 per day per family.
“Jury service is one of our most important civic duties as Americans,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea. “While we know that the small amount jurors receive for their service doesn’t reflect the importance of their work, we hope that this higher compensation will make it a little easier for citizens to participate in their justice system. We are grateful to the governor and legislature for supporting this funding request, and for helping us send a message to jurors that we value the crucial role they play in our courts.”
More information about jury duty in Minnesota can be found at www.mncourts.gov/jury.