McLean County increases juror pay, removes mileage

Posted on May 24, 2015
Jury Duty
McLean County is increasing jury duty pay from $10 per day to $25 for the first day and $50 dollars each day after that starting June 1. (Photo by B Corbin/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – If you are selected for jury duty in McLean County, it won’t be as much of a financial hardship.

The county is raising the juror fee to meet state law. It has been $10 per day to serve on a jury in McLean County. Starting June 1, it will become $25 for the first day and $50 each following day.

To reduce the county’s costs it will no longer pay mileage.

“To leave our mileage reimbursement policy in place the way it had been and to have the new mandated per diem unfunded mandate from the state would have cost us about $200,000 (annually),” said County Board Chairman Matt Sorensen. He noted it will cost the county about $60,000 annually to pay only the daily stipend.

McLean County Justice Committee Chairman William Caisley, a retired judge, said that penalizes jurors in outlying areas of the county who might have to drive as much as 70 miles per day roundtrip.

“It’s no major problem for us (who live in Bloomington-Normal) to travel to and from the Law and Justice Center, but if you live in Lilly or Osman or some place like that, you are going to spend a considerable amount of time (and money),” Caisley said.

The county has been reimbursing jurors 38 cents per mile.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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