Jury Duty Pay in Arizona

About Jury Duty in Arizona

Arizona pays jurors $12 per day — among the lowest in the country. However, HB 2592 (passed 2022 with overwhelming bipartisan support: 59-0-1 in the House, 7-0-3 in the Senate) created a $1.62 million per year Lengthy Trial Fund providing $40–$300/day in earnings replacement for jurors on extended trials. Maricopa County (Phoenix) alone summons over 300,000 jurors annually.

How Jury Pay Works

Arizona pays a flat $12/day under A.R.S. § 21-221 plus mileage at the state employee rate. The $12 rate puts Arizona in the bottom tier nationally. The Lengthy Trial Fund (HB 2592) partially addresses this for jurors on longer trials: earnings replacement of $40–$300/day is available for those who demonstrate financial hardship from extended service.

Maricopa County: One of the Largest Jury Systems

Maricopa County (Phoenix) summons over 300,000 jurors annually for Superior Court alone — approximately 430,000 across the entire judicial branch — making it one of the largest jury operations in the United States. The county’s jury assembly room processes hundreds of jurors daily with a streamlined, technology-supported system.

Employer Obligations

Arizona employers are not required to pay wages during jury service but cannot penalize employees. Major Phoenix-area employers in technology, healthcare, and financial services typically continue salary voluntarily. Workers in tourism, hospitality, and retail — significant sectors in Arizona’s economy — generally rely on the $12/day state rate.

How Arizona Compares

Arizona’s $12/day rate is among the lowest in the country, joining Nevada at $65/day, Utah at $18.50/$49, and Colorado at $50/day as neighboring states with dramatically different approaches. The Lengthy Trial Fund provides meaningful relief for the small percentage of jurors on extended trials but doesn’t address the underlying inadequacy of the $12 rate for the typical juror. Federal jurors in Arizona’s single district receive $50/day — more than quadruple the state rate.

Statute: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 21-221 — Official source