Effort to raise juror pay and diversify panels faces first setback following governor's budget revision

At least four counties in California said they would suspend a groundbreaking pilot program that pays jurors in seven counties $100 a day to boost jury diversity, citing Gov. Gavin Newsom's revised state budget proposal, which calls for eliminating the initiative to help close a multi-billion-dollar deficit.

"Effective May 19, 2025, the AB 1981 pilot program which provided increased compensation to jurors will be discontinued," Shelby Wineinger, El Dorado's court executive officer, said in a statement Monday. "This change is a result of the release of the Governor's May Revision to the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which includes budget trailer bill language to eliminate the requirement for the Judicial Council to conduct the AB 1981 jury pilot study and revert unspent funds to offset the state's projected budget shortfall."

Jurors who served on or before May 16 will receive the higher rate of $100 per day and $0.67 per mile. Those serving on or after May 19 will be paid the standard $15 per day and $0.34 per mile starting on the second day.

Spokespeople confirmed on Monday that Imperial and Shasta Counties are also suspending their pilot programs. San Bernardino made a similar announcement on Friday.

The 2022 California law, AB 1981, seeks to diversify juries by increasing compensation for low-income jurors, addressing the longstanding issue that financial hardship prevents many from serving. The law created a pilot program that began on Sept. 1, 2024, in seven counties: Alameda, El Dorado, Fresno, Imperial, Monterey, San Bernardino, and Shasta.

Just one of the seven counties - Alameda - said it would not immediately cancel the program.

"We have not suspended the pilot," Alameda Court spokesman Paul Rosynsky responded in an email. "We are currently evaluating next steps."

The other counties have not announced what they intend to do.

Advocates argue that the change could help correct the underrepresentation of people of color and working-class individuals on juries, especially in counties where seated juries are often disproportionately white and older.

California is grappling with a projected budget deficit of approximately $12 billion for the 2025-26 fiscal year, as outlined in Newsom's revised state budget proposal.