HOUSTON – To combat the ongoing problem of low jury duty participation, Harris County has introduced a significant increase in pay for jurors.
The initiative aims to boost attendance and, ultimately, ensure a fairer and more representative justice system. With this new approach, Harris County officials are hoping to increase participation by offering financial incentives to those who serve on juries.
The Problem: Low Jury Duty Response Rates
Harris County has long struggled with poor jury duty attendance, especially among minority communities. Between 2018 and 2020, the overall jury duty response rate in the county was a staggeringly low 20%. The response rates among African American (16%) and Hispanic (19%) populations were even lower. This lack of participation has led to a lack of diversity in jury panels, a problem that undermines the fairness and legitimacy of the justice system.
“We have underrepresentation in our panels, and that’s adversely affecting our minority communities and our young people,” said Harris County District Clerk, Marilyn Burgess.
The low response rates have prompted officials to look for alternative ways to improve participation without relying on expensive and resource-draining enforcement measures.
The Solution: Increased Pay for Jurors
Harris County’s response has been to raise the first-day jury duty pay from $6 to $20 to $30, in 2023. The first increase was to conform to a new state law, the second increase was driven largely by Harris County Clerk Marilyn Burgess. Additionally, the pay for subsequent days of service has increased to $58 per day, a rise of $18 from previous rates. The county’s strategy is clear: make jury duty more financially appealing in hopes of enticing more citizens to show up.
“I maybe will go now if it’s $30,” Harris County resident, Eric Fritz, said.
The increase is intended to ease the burden of taking time off work and other personal inconveniences that come with jury duty.
A National Stand-Out — But Not for the Right Reasons
Historically, Harris County has struggled with one of the lowest jury duty participation rates in the nation. The county’s track record was recently highlighted by a nonprofit group, the Center for Juror Studies, which monitors jury duty participation across the country. Harris County’s poor attendance rates have raised concerns about the fairness of our judicial process.
Officials have recognized the issue and are determined to make improvements.
The Financial Impact: Tax Dollars at Work
Increased jury pay comes at a cost, but officials argue that the benefits of higher participation outweigh the financial burden. The added jury pay will require millions in local tax dollars. According to estimates, the total increase could cost the county an additional $4 to $5 million annually.
However, officials stress that this investment could pay off in terms of a more representative justice system.
“It’s worth the cost if it brings in more diverse jurors,” Burgess said.
Harris County Commissioners will need to approve any further pay increases that go beyond the state-mandated rates. The district clerk has indicated that further pay raises may be considered if the initial study shows positive results in terms of increased jury participation.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Jury Duty
As Harris County continues to experiment with different ways to encourage jury duty participation, officials remain cautiously optimistic about the impact of the pay increase.
“I think we could see even better results if we raise the pay to $75 a day, which would be closer to a living wage for the time spent,” the District Clerk said.
An initial study on the effectiveness of the pay increases is expected to be completed in the coming months, and the findings will likely help shape future decisions about jury compensation.
