Employers in nearly all the states of the United States are mandated by law to give a time off to any employee of theirs who has been summoned for jury duty. Therefore, persons who perform jury duty are to be compensated. However, the law does not mandate their employers to pay them during the period they would be off from discharging their primary duties to their employers. The jury duty check could take between a few days to nearly nine weeks before it gets to the person who functioned as a juror. It depends and varies between the different states to determine when the juror receives his compensation. For example, in New York, the one who served as a juror would receive their remuneration within four to six weeks.
What is a Jury Duty?
According to www.thebalancecareers.com, “jury duty is an obligation of U.S. citizens who receive a court summons to appear on a particular day and time to serve on a jury potentially. Jury duty is a civic responsibility.” This means that jury duty is a system where a citizen is contacted by either the federal or state government to be present for a selection process of functioning as a part of a jury.
It is also a civic responsibility because when someone serves as a juror in criminal or civil litigation, such a person ensures that the trial is fast-tracked. The defendants’ right to an impartial judgement is protected.
Eligibility for Jury Duty
Only able-bodied grown-ups are thought capable of making equitable and impartial decisions, so to be chosen as a juror, one must primarily be over the age of 18. Other eligibility requirements include: the person summoned must be a citizen of the United States and not an alien; must possess an impressive mastery of the English language; must not be an ex-convict or should have had his legal rights restored where he has been previously convicted, and such a person must necessarily not be above 70 years.
When you receive a summons to perform jury duty, you must report before the court as failure to do so would be tantamount to a contempt of court.
How long does it take to get jury duty checks?
The period for receiving jury duty checks differs between States and counties. In some cases, most generally, one would have to wait between some days after completing the jury duty and nine weeks to receive the paycheck.
For someone residing in Los Angeles, jurors have their checks mailed to them merely a few days after their jury duty is concluded. This is relatively fast compared to other jurisdictions; that could take six to nine weeks later to have your compensation mailed to your home address.
In New York, jurors get reimbursed within four weeks to six weeks after completing the trial. Usually, it is easier to contact the federal or local authorities where the jury duty was performed to discover when you should expect your paycheck.
The compensation for jury duty also ranges differently between States, from $4 daily pay to $60 daily pay.
Federal jurors take home about $50 per day. Where the person serving as a juror is an employee of the federal government, their conventional salary is paid, however, given in line with the sum mentioned above.
Jurors who had their salaries regularly paid to them by their employers during the jury duty would not be paid by the state. The law does not mandate employers to pay their employees on jury duty; however, in Massachusetts, practically all employers are mandated to pay their employees except in certain circumstances where paying would be injurious to the employer.
In conclusion, it could take any time between some days after the completion of the jury duty and nine weeks to get your jury duty check, and it is best to contact the authorities where you served to find out how long it could take. Jury duty checks are usually sent to the juror by the department of the State comptroller.
Would I be paid during jury service?
Your employer exercises his discretion on whether or not to pay you during jury duty.
Best advice for intending Jurors?
Seek advice from senior colleagues before enrolling for a jury service and make sure to go through the needed info before proceeding.
