Jury Duty Pay in Michigan

About Jury Duty in Michigan

Michigan pays jurors $25 for the first day ($12.50 for a half-day) and $45 for each subsequent full day, under MCL 600.1344. When the state’s Juror Compensation Revolving Fund falls below $2 million, the rate drops to $25/$40. Either way, the rate is substantially higher than the outdated $12.50 figure that appears in some secondary sources.

How Jury Pay Works

Michigan uses a two-tier system: $25 for day one ($12.50 half-day) and $45 for each full day thereafter ($22.50 half-day). Mileage reimbursement varies by county, typically following the federal GSA rate. Michigan is a “one day or one trial” state, so most jurors are released after a single day. For those selected, the escalating rate provides some relief for longer trials.

Wayne County and Detroit

Wayne County (Detroit) has one of the largest jury pools in the Midwest. The Frank Murphy Hall of Justice summons tens of thousands of jurors annually. Detroit jurors receive parking validation but no cash supplement. Unlike Illinois’s Cook County which provides transit vouchers, Wayne County’s support is limited to parking.

Employer Obligations

Michigan employers are not required to pay wages during jury service. They cannot fire or penalize employees, but there is no statutory duty to continue compensation. The Detroit Three automakers (Ford, GM, Stellantis) typically continue full salary for UAW-represented workers under collective bargaining agreements, giving unionized auto workers a significant advantage over non-union employees.

Comparison with Neighbors

Michigan’s $25/$45 rate is competitive within the Midwest: higher than Ohio’s $10/day and Indiana’s $15/$40, comparable to Illinois’s $25/$50, but well below New York’s $72/day. For federal cases heard in Detroit’s Theodore Levin Courthouse, jurors earn $50/day — comparable to Michigan’s state rate for subsequent days but with round-trip mileage at the GSA rate.

Statute: Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.1344 — Official source