Why are jurors not paid (at least) minimum wage?

[whopis01]

I have a friend of mine that was selected for jury duty recently. She works hourly and her employer will not pay her during her jury duty. In her state (California) there is no requirement for the employer to pay. It is for the federal court so the pay is $40 / day - which is far better than the $15 / day, starting on the second day, that the state court pays. But even at $40/day for an 8 hour day (required to be there from 8am - 5pm), that only comes to $5.00/hr. I don't understand how the state can pay less than minimum wage while not requiring employers to make up for the lost wages.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. Jury duty is considered a citizen obligation...

kinda like voting, so you're lucky to get paid at all.

Yeah, that sounds like bullshit to me, too, but that's the way it is for now.

[alarimer]

4. An obligation that should not come with financial hardship attached to it.

People would be more willing (and able) to serve if it wasn't such a disruption in their lives, financially and otherwise.

[whopis01]

6. I do understand that

but it just doesn't seem right. At least require employers to cover the pay for the time period.

I guess what bothers me most about it is how inequitable it ends up being in practice. The better paying job you have, the more likely your employer will pay for wages even though that is the person it would less of a hardship to. It is the lower paid hourly workers who are likely to not receive pay from their employer.

[Mr.Bill]

2. In civil cases,

if they made the losing side pay jurors a fair wage, it would greatly reduce frivolous lawsuits.

[JVS]

3. It would make it even riskier for people without wealth to sue those who have wronged them.

[Mr.Bill]

5. There is that potntial downside, but it wouldn't be a problem

if they win. Lawyers taking a case on a contingency basis would need to be sure they were right and offer to cover these costs. Like I said, that would reduce frivolous lawsuits. For the side that knows they are wrong, it would make out of court settlements more common.

[treestar]

7. +1

It is hard enough and people should not be punished for litigating. It's not like it's that clear who would win and who would lose, or they would not be going to trial. God, I hate that attitude.

[whistler162]

8. Obviously skinner is a skinflint!

[whopis01]

9. LOL n/t