Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Lamar P. Fisher
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO DIRECT County Administrator to communicate with the Broward County Clerk of Courts to gauge her interest in developing a proposed program, for the Board’s subsequent consideration, to provide supplemental compensation to jurors serving on felony trials greater than five days in length. (Commissioner Fisher)
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Why Action is Necessary
Board direction is required for the County Administrator to discuss, coordinate, and collaborate with the Broward County Clerk of Courts to develop a new program for the Board’s later consideration.
What Action Accomplishes
Provides the required direction to the County Administrator.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
One of the foundational principles of our criminal justice system is entitlement to a jury of one’s peers. To that end, it is imperative that our jury pools in Broward County more fully reflect our community.
Chief Judge Jack Tuter has indicated that intervention may be needed to ensure the pool of potential jurors for longer felony criminal trials reflects a better cross section of Broward County residents. A December 2023 study from the Conference of State Court Administrators indicates that many potential jurors are less than candid when seeking to be released from jury duty and that 48% of those did so because of the financial hardship associated with jury service.
Pursuant to Section 40.24, Florida Statutes, jurors are compensated by the Clerk’s Office beyond their fifth day at a rate of only $30 per day of service. Florida law does not prohibit providing supplemental compensation to jurors for their service.
According to the 2023 Q3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average weekly wage of a Broward County resident was $1,269.00 per week (or $254 per day). Chief Judge Tuter has raised concerns that the financial hardship associated with serving on lengthy felony trials results in a more limited jury pool and that providing additional compensation to jurors serving on these trials may result in a jury pool that is more representative of Broward County.
Providing a mechanism to broaden the population who can serve on a jury without significant financial hardship will benefit our system of justice as well as our residents who provide service to our community by sitting on a jury.
If approved, this item would direct the County Administrator to communicate with the Broward County Clerk of Courts to gauge her interest in designing a program to provide additional compensation to jurors serving on felony criminal trials that last longer than five days. If the Clerk of Courts desires to develop a program consistent with this item, the County Administrator would then bring the proposed program details back to the Board for consideration. Any proposed program requiring county funding and an agreement with the Clerk of Courts would also be subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney.
Source of Additional Information
Mabel Hurtado, Commission Aide, District 4, 954-357-7004
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
To be determined by the Office of Management and Budget upon presentation of a draft agreement or program.