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Senate committee hears proposal to raise juror pay; sponsors cite recruitment and fairness concerns
Summary
Sen. Mike Yakovich sponsored Senate Bill 370 to increase juror pay from $12 to a higher daily rate; backers said higher pay would reduce financial hardship and improve jury representativeness, while the League of Cities and Towns warned municipal and city courts could face substantial new costs without clarified reimbursement language.
Senator Mike Yakovich introduced Senate Bill 370 to raise Montana’s juror pay, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee that the current $12 daily juror fee was no longer adequate and that a higher rate would reduce financial hardship for jurors and improve the representativeness of jury pools.
Yakovich said Montana’s current pay lagged neighboring states and estimated that increasing payments would help attract younger and lower‑income residents who otherwise cannot afford to serve. He said…
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