PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act Regarding Jury Service
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 14 MRSA §1215,  as amended by PL 1991, c. 591, Pt. E, §13, is further amended to read:
§ 1215. Mileage and compensation of jurors
A juror is entitled to paid mileage at the rate of 15¢50¢ per mile for travel expenses from the juror's residence to the place of holding court and return and to compensation at the rate of $10 for each day of required attendance at sessions of the court.
Sec. 2. 14 MRSA §1216,  as amended by PL 1983, c. 688, §7, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 1216.  Frequency and length of service by jurors
 
1.  Frequency.     Over the course of a person's life, the person may not be required:
 
A.  To serve or attend court for prospective service as a traverse juror more than 3 times. For purposes of this paragraph, a requirement to attend court for possible service as a juror for more than 5 workdays is considered a separate call to service as a juror;
 
B.  To serve on more than one grand jury; or
 
C.  To serve as both a grand and traverse juror.
 
2.  Term of grand jury service.     The terms of the grand jury in any county must be set by the Chief Justice of the Superior Court with a maximum of 12 months’ service required. When the number of grand jurors is reduced by death or otherwise, additional grand jurors may be selected and summoned under the direction of the court at any time.
 
SUMMARY
This bill increases the mileage reimbursement rate for jurors from 15¢ per mile to 50¢ per mile. This bill also limits to 3 the number of times that a person may be required to serve as a juror or called to service as a juror.