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Court administration seeks jury-budget increase as judge considers fewer non-jury weeks; bailiff vacancies raise recruitment concerns
Summary
Court administration reported potential changes to the jury calendar that would increase costs and asked for an amended jury budget; the county also learned the courthouse has two full-time bailiff vacancies and faces recruiting pressure on entry pay.
Laurie (Court Administrator) and Tricia (Jury Coordinator) briefed the committee on two connected items: bailiff staffing and a proposed change to the jury schedule that would increase jury-related budget lines.
Laurie said the courthouse has another full-time bailiff vacancy, leaving two full-time positions unfilled. She reported the current starting pay for bailiffs is $20.75 per hour with a $0.50 increase after six months (to $21.25) and an additional scheduled step on Dec. 1, 2025 that would raise pay to about $22.25 per hour. Laurie said the bailiff positions are nonunion and the office supplements full-time staff with part-time bailiffs; the vacancy has persisted for roughly three years despite ongoing advertising.
Tricia reported jury administration activity: 1,391 summons issued, 585 reminders sent, 119 jurors brought in for the single trial that reached voir dire during the period, 68 failures to appear and two grand-jury dates. Tricia said judges are considering reducing the number of non-jury weeks in the calendar year (currently nine) to allow more trial weeks; the chief judge (Judge Ryan) is reportedly considering cutting non-jury weeks to four.
Laurie submitted an amended budget request to cover potential increases if the calendar change is implemented for 2026. Line-item increases include more summons, higher jury pay and mileage, meals for deliberating jurors, debit cards for jurors, additional part-time jury commissioners and higher office-supply budgets. Laurie requested the committee forward the amended budget to finance; the committee approved the request and sent it to Finance.
Ending: The committee approved forwarding the amended jury and courthouse administration budget to the finance office and asked Laurie to continue recruiting for bailiff positions; members suggested reviewing entry wages and whether bailiff duties could be shifted under other public-safety classifications in future discussions.
