-Editorial
The pilot program established under Assembly Bill 1981 (AB 1981), which aimed to increase compensation for jurors in select California counties, has been officially suspended as of May 19, 2025. The decision follows the release of Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revision to the 2025-2026 proposed state budget.
The program, designed to address economic barriers to jury service and improve participation rates, was launched as a temporary measure to evaluate the effects of higher juror pay on court operations and accessibility. Under AB 1981, qualified jurors in participating counties were eligible for increased daily compensation and reimbursement for transportation.
The suspension applies to all counties previously participating in the pilot, including Imperial County. Jurors called to serve on or after May 19 will receive standard compensation rates, as outlined under existing California law: $15 per day starting the second day of service, plus 34 cents per mile for one-way travel.
Assembly Bill 1981 (AB 1981), introduced in the California State Legislature in 2022 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), established a pilot program aimed at increasing compensation for jurors in selected counties. The goal of the legislation was to improve jury participation by addressing the financial hardships many Californians face when called for jury duty.
The pilot program, launched in 2023, provided jurors with increased daily compensation—up to $100 per day—for those who met certain low- to moderate-income thresholds and experienced income loss due to jury service. It also offered reimbursement for transportation and dependent care in some cases. The program was implemented in several counties, including Alameda, Los Angeles, and Imperial, as part of an effort to study the effect of enhanced juror pay on participation rates and jury diversity.
AB 1981 was a response to longstanding concerns about the accessibility and equity of jury service, especially among working-class individuals and communities of color, who are often underrepresented in jury pools. Supporters argued that increasing pay would encourage broader civic participation and lead to more representative juries.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revision to the 2025–26 California state budget proposes major cuts to close a projected $12 billion deficit. Key reductions include freezing Medi-Cal expansion for undocumented adults, cutting $1.5 billion from public transit, eliminating planned raises for state workers, slashing university funding by over $270 million, and suspending the AB 1981 jury pay pilot program. The revision also proposes trimming arts funding and reducing in-home care support. These cuts aim to balance the budget without new taxes but have sparked concern from advocates and public agencies.
