What is the Payment for Jury Duty in NSW?
Jury duty is a vital role for all persons on the electoral roll. If you are employed, you can take leave to attend jury duty.
Jury Duty is a civic responsibility in which individuals are randomly selected and summoned to serve as jurors in a court of law. In New South Wales (NSW), Australia, jury duty involves being a member of a jury in either the Supreme Court or the District Court of NSW. The purpose of jury duty is to provide an impartial and fair trial for the accused, and to ensure that justice is served.
When summoned for jury duty in NSW, individuals are required to attend the court on the specified date and time.
What is Jury Duty?
The concept of a jury came from Germanic customs and the Court system, which evolved into the modern-day jury. The role of a juror is to find facts and determine the truth or falsity of factual allegations against a person. In addition, the collective jury is responsible for declaring the guilt or innocence of a person accused by the state. The Jury Act 1977 (the Act) regulates the NSW jury service system.
Daily Rate for Jury Service
Pursuant to s72 of the Jury Act, a person who attends a court or coronial inquest pursuant to a summons for jury service is entitled to payment.
The table below outlines the daily rate for jury duty payment in NSW.
Days of Trial | Daily Rate | Employment Status |
Days 1-10 | $106.30 a day | All jurors |
Days 11 to trial end | $247.40 a day | Jurors who are employed |
Days 11 to trial end | $106.30 a day | Jurors who are not employed |
In addition, you are paid a travel allowance, calculated on the distance from your postcode to the courthouse at 30.7 cents per kilometre.
Exemptions to Jury Duty
Some persons are excluded from jury service. In summary, people convicted of serious offences such as terrorism or sexual assault are exempt. In addition, people holding certain official positions, lawyers, medical practitioners, emergency service staff, full-time carers, and dentists, are exempt from jury duty.
If you do not fall within the above category, you should speak to a criminal lawyer to discuss whether any other valid exemption is available.
