Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Makes juror compensation equal to State minimum wage rate.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning juror compensation and amending P.L.1993, c.275.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 19 of P.L.1993, c.275 (C.22A:1-1.1) is amended to read as follows:
19. a. Every person serving as a juror in New Jersey courts, whether as a grand or petit juror, shall receive, for each [day's] eligible hour’s attendance at such courts, [the] a sum equal to [of $5] the minimum wage rate pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a4). Any increase in the State minimum wage shall correspondingly increase the amount a juror shall receive for each eligible hour’s attendance in such courts. Each person serving as a juror, other than a person compensated pursuant to N.J.S.2B:20-16, shall be paid according to this subsection for each eligible hour’s attendance in New Jersey courts.
b. [In addition to the amounts received pursuant to subsection a. of this section, each person serving as a juror, other than a person compensated pursuant to N.J.S.2B:20-16, shall be paid $35 for each consecutive day of attendance in excess of three days. For the purposes of this subsection, "consecutive" days of attendance shall be counted excluding Saturdays, Sundays, State holidays and days when a trial is in recess.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill)
c. The Assignment Judge of the vicinage shall designate the method of juror payment. The Assignment Judge shall keep an account of all juror fees paid under this section and provide each juror with a statement of the number of [days] eligible hours the juror served and the amount of fees to which the juror is entitled. The Assignment Judge shall determine eligible hours of jurors.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.38, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the hourly wage a juror receives for a day’s attendance in the New Jersey courts.
Under current law, a juror receives $5 for each day’s attendance, and after three consecutive days, the pay increases to $35 for each day. Jurors would be paid for eligible hour’s attendance, as determined by the vicinage Assignment Judge.
Under this bill, the hourly wage paid to a juror in New Jersey courts is required to be equal to the State minimum wage.
The bill removes the provision that jurors are paid $35 per day after three consecutive days to clarify the payment to jurors of the hourly State minimum wage.
The bill creates an exception from juror compensation for full-time public employees, who are otherwise compensated by the State or a political subdivision of the State when required to be excused from work to fulfill the obligations of jury service.