For the first time in decades, the New York State Legislature and governor amended Sections 519 and 521 of the Judiciary Law, to increase the daily rate of pay for trial and grand jurors serving in New York State, from $40 to $72. This amendment was enacted through the New York State Budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, which was signed into law on May 9, 2025. Accordingly, as of June 8, 2025, most employers with 11 or more employees must pay their employees who are absent for jury duty at a daily rate of $72 for the first three days of jury duty.

Specifically, in the same manner as before the amendment, employers with 11 or more employees are required to pay employees for their first three days of jury service. As was previously required, in situations where an employee’s wages for time spent absent from work due to jury duty would be equal to or higher than the jury fee, the employer is responsible for paying at least the jury fee. Prior to the June 2025 amendment, in such cases, an employer was required to pay at least $40 per day. Now, employers must pay at least $72 per day.

As was also previously required, when an employee’s daily wages for time spent absent from work would be lower than the daily jury fee (now $72 per day), the employer must pay the entirety of such daily wages. The employee is then entitled to an allowance (to be paid by the state) equal to the difference between the amount of the employee’s daily wages and $72.

While the Judiciary Law provides that...

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