Connecticut Courts See Jury Duty Concerns

The economy is making it harder for the courts to find willing jurors, according to a recent report by the Connecticut Law Tribune. Prospective jurors are expressing more and more concern that reporting for jury duty might result in losing a job. What’s more, even jurors who are unemployed are expressing concern that jury duty could interfere with a productivity of job searches.

Generally, attorneys on both sides of a case release jurors who express concerns about the loss of a job. This makes sense, as neither side would want jurors who have grave concerns that might result in decisions made in order to hurry cases to completion. Unfortunately, as fewer and fewer people are willing to serve as jurors, jury selection is taking longer.

In efforts to keep jury selection and cases running smoothly, Connecticut courts are making sure to inform prospective jurors that employers are not allowed to fire them for attending jury duty; in addition, employers are required by state law to pay an employee for the first five days he or she serves on a jury. After the five days, jurors are paid $50 per day by the state, if employed full-time. For unemployed jurors or those who work on a part-time basis, the state pays between $20 and $50 per day.