Some San Francisco jurors have been paid $100 per day this week as part of a state pilot program.
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The city's "Be the Jury" program launched on Monday after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1452 into law last October. As part of the initiative, low- to moderate-income jurors who are either unemployed, self-employed or unable to be compensated for part, or all, of their jury service are eligible to receive $100 per day.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement last week the program allows the city to "take another big step to ensure that the legal system serves everyone."
"The right to a trial by a jury of your peers is a cornerstone of our criminal legal system, but we know too often our juries don't meet that principle because of issues around who has the time and resources to serve," Breed said.
City officials said a Judicial Council of California survey found 35% of San Francisco jurors said that serving imposed some kind of financial hardship. Prior to this week, jurors in San Francisco Superior Court were paid $15 per day, beginning with their second day of service.
Assemblymember Phil Ting and Senator Scott Wiener co-authored the bill last year, while San Francisco Treasurer José Cisneros, District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Public Defender Mano Raju sponsored the legislation. Newsom signed the bill into law last October after it passed with overwhelming majorities in the Senate (36-3) and Assembly (73-0).
“No one should be priced out of jury service," Cisneros said last week in a statement. "Our juries should reflect San Francisco's economic and racial diversity, but low juror compensation prevents too many people from participating in jury service."
Cisneros' office is funding the initiative through private donations as part of the San Francisco Financial Justice Project. AB 1452 requires the program to end "on or before" Dec. 31, 2023, or if it's determined increased juror pay is prejudicial "to the rights of litigants or the interest of justice," according to the bill's text.
The full list of eligibility requirements can be found here. Eligible jurors can ask court staff for an application when their jury service begins, as well as call 311 for more information.
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