Sponsors
The bill raises juror pay in D.C., which reduces financial hardship and should improve jury participation, but it increases local government costs and requires administrative updates to implement smoothly.
D.C. Superior Court jurors (especially working residents) will receive higher, standardized compensation—bringing juror pay into parity with federal district courts—reducing out-of-pocket costs and likely improving jury participation and reducing financial hardship.
The law delays the effective date until the next fiscal year, giving the court and budget offices time to plan and phase in the increased juror pay, easing implementation and short-term administrative strain.
Higher juror fees will raise costs for the District government (and could increase federal reimbursements), putting pressure on local budgets and possibly forcing reallocation of funds or cuts to other services.
Repealing the existing D.C. statutory provision (§15–718) could create temporary administrative or legal confusion about payment authority and procedures until regulations and practices are updated.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires D.C. Superior Court grand and petit jurors to be paid the same fees and expenses as U.S. district court jurors under federal law.
Introduced March 9, 2026 by Eleanor Holmes Norton · Last progress March 9, 2026
Requires that grand and petit jurors serving in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia be paid the same fees and expenses as jurors in U.S. district courts under federal law. The change applies to payments made on or after the first day of the first fiscal year beginning after the law is enacted and also repeals the existing local statutory provision on juror pay.