Jury Duty Pay in Colorado

About Jury Duty in Colorado

Colorado combines a high $50/day state rate with mandatory employer-paid leave for the first three days of jury service — making it one of the most generous states for jurors in the country. The dual-compensation model ensures income continuity during short trials while the state covers longer service.

How Jury Pay Works

Colorado pays $50/day from the state for all days of jury service. Additionally, under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-71-126, employers must pay regular wages up to $50/day for the first three days. After day three, the state’s $50/day takes over. This means:

• Days 1-3: Employer pays regular wages + juror receives $50/day from the state
• Day 4+: State $50/day only (employer obligation ends)

The mileage reimbursement typically follows the federal GSA rate. Colorado is a “one day or one trial” state.

The Dual-Compensation Model

Colorado’s approach — combining a high state rate with mandated employer pay — is shared with only a few other states, notably Massachusetts ($50/day + employer 3 days) and New York ($72/day + employer 3 days). The model is designed to make jury service financially neutral for the typical juror, whose trial lasts 2-4 days and falls entirely within the employer-paid window.

The practical effect is that most Colorado jurors suffer no income loss at all during jury service. This stands in sharp contrast to states like Missouri ($6/day, no employer mandate) or Arizona ($12/day, no employer mandate), where even a short trial means a significant pay cut.

Denver and the Front Range

Denver County operates the state’s largest jury system, summoning tens of thousands of jurors annually to the City and County Building and the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse. Front Range counties (Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams, Boulder) each operate independent jury systems. The Denver metro area’s extensive light rail system makes transit-accessible jury service practical for many residents.

How Colorado Compares

Colorado’s $50/day state rate matches Georgia and Massachusetts, and the employer mandate puts it in an elite tier of juror-friendly states. The contrast with neighboring Wyoming and Nebraska is dramatic — both have significantly lower rates with no employer mandate. Federal jurors in Colorado’s single federal district receive $50/day — the same as the state rate, making Colorado one of the few states where state and federal jury pay are roughly equivalent. For most working Coloradans, jury service carries no financial penalty at all.

Statute: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-71-126 — Official source