Juror Pay Gap in D.C. Courts Targeted in New Bill

March 11, 2026

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has reintroduced legislation in Congress to equalize jury compensation between D.C. Superior Court and federal courts. Currently, federal jurors receive $50 daily (increasing to $60 after extended service) plus transportation reimbursement, while D.C. Superior Court jurors receive $50 plus a $7 travel subsidy totaling $57. The disparity has drawn criticism from District residents who argue the compensation is inadequate given D.C.'s $17 minimum wage and cost of living.

Who is affected

District of Columbia residents who serve on juries in D.C. Superior Court
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.'s nonvoting congressional representative)
D.C. Superior Court (which handles criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, and family cases)
District residents who cannot afford to serve on juries at current compensation rates
Congress members who must consider the legislation

What action is being taken

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton has reintroduced the District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act in Congress
Norton is urging her congressional colleagues to support and approve the legislation

Why it matters

This legislation matters because it addresses fundamental fairness in the jury system, ensuring that citizens performing the same civic duty receive equal compensation regardless of which court they serve in. The current low compensation creates a barrier to jury participation for many District residents who cannot afford to serve for $50-57 per day in a city with a $17 minimum wage, potentially undermining the representative nature of juries and weakening one of democracy's core institutions.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer