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Current through October 23, 2012
(a) A juror serving in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall be paid an attendance fee of $30 for each day of actual attendance at the place of trial or hearing, except that jurors employed by a federal, state, or local government or by a private employer who pays regular compensation during the period of jury service shall not be paid an attendance fee. A person summoned for petit jury service in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia who does not serve on the petit jury shall not be paid an attendance fee.
(b) A travel allowance not to exceed $2 per day shall be paid to all jurors serving in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
(c) For jury service of 5 days or less, petit or grand jurors employed full-time in the District of Columbia shall be entitled to their usual compensation less the fee received for jury service. A person shall not be considered a full-time employed juror on any day of jury service in which that person:
(1) Would not have accrued regular wages to be paid by the employer if the employee were not serving as a juror on that day; or
(2) Would not have worked more than 1/2 of a shift that extends into another day if the employee were not serving as a juror on that day. Employers with 10 or less employees shall not be required to pay a juror-employee his or her usual compensation.
(d) If an employer fails to pay an employee in violation of subsection (c) of this section, the employee may bring a civil action for recovery of wages or salary lost as a result of the violation. If an employee prevails in an action under this subsection, that employee shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees fixed by the court.
(e) The Board of Judges of the Superior Court may increase the attendance fee and travel allowance provided by this section and, in such event, shall publish the new fee or allowance.
(Mar. 9, 1988, D.C. Law 7-81, § 2(c), 34 DCR 8115; Aug. 17, 1991, D.C. Law 9-19, title I, § 104, 38 DCR 4066; Aug. 17, 1991, D.C. Law 9-43, § 2, 38 DCR 4985; Aug. 25, 1994, D.C. Law 10-156, § 2, 41 DCR 4876; Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-272, § 2(a), 54 DCR 856.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 15-718.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 16-272 added subsec. (e).
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90-day) addition of § 15-719 [1981 Ed.], see § 2 of the Foster Children's Guardianship Emergency Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-433, August 14, 2000, 47 DCR 7467).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 7-81, the "Juror Fees Act of 1987," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 7-125, which was referred to the Committee of the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 10, 1987 and November 24, 1987, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 10, 1987, it was assigned Act No. 7-116 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 9-19, the "Omnibus Budget Support Temporary Act of 1991," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 9-205. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on May 7, 1991, and June 4, 1991, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 21, 1991, it was assigned Act No. 9-43 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 9-43, the "Juror Fees Amendment Act of 1991," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 9-165, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 4, 1991, and July 2, 1991, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 24, 1991, it was assigned Act No. 9-80 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 10-156, the "Jury Fee Act of 1994," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-41, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 7, 1994, and June 21, 1994, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 8, 1994, it was assigned Act No. 10- 272 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-156 became effective on August 25, 1994.
Law 16-272, the "Jury Trial Improvements Act of 2006", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 16-700, which was referred to Committee on Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 5, 2006, and December 19, 2006, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 28, 2006, it was assigned Act No. 16-628 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 16-272 became effective on March 14, 2007.
