JONESBORO — Jury and bailiff pay could increase, according to a proposal by Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley.
In a presentation to the Clayton County Board of Commissioners at its Feb. 6 meeting, Mosely said the proposed jury pay would be $50 per day, up from the current $25 per day.
Bailiffs are requesting their pay be increased to $15 per hour, from $10 per hour.
Bailiffs are part-time and are usually retirees, Mosely said.
Mosely told commissioners that Clayton County jurors have been paid $25 per day at least since 1998.
“Considering the amount of time for grand jury they’re there for eight hours — every Wednesday for eight hours,” she said.
She said depending on the jury trial, jurors can be there for more than eight hours, and her jury trials usually last a week.
“When you look at $25 a day — $50 honestly is not enough — but the statute caps it at a minimum of $5 and a maximum of $50 per diem a day,” she said.
Mosely said the Clerk of Superior Court’s budget for jury is about $553,000 per year, and that would need to be doubled to more than $1.1 million if the pay is increased.
If the proposal is approved, it would go into the fiscal year 2025 budget, Mosely said.
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