Jury Duty Pay in Utah

About Jury Duty in Utah

Utah pays $18.50 for the first day and $49 for each subsequent day — the oddly specific $18.50 first-day rate is a relic of incremental legislative adjustments over decades. Utah also has strong employer protections: employers cannot require use of leave for jury service, and violations can result in up to $500 fines or 6 months imprisonment.

How Jury Pay Works

Under Utah Code Ann. § 78B-1-119, jurors receive $18.50 for day one and $49/day from day two onward. Mileage reimbursement follows the state rate, and the Utah Transit Authority provides passes in the Salt Lake metro area. Utah is a “one day or one trial” state.

Salt Lake County’s Matheson Courthouse

The Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City is one of the busiest judicial facilities in the Mountain West. The courthouse handles the majority of Utah’s jury trials and has a well-organized jury assembly operation. Salt Lake County’s light rail (TRAX) system stops directly at the courthouse.

The Wasatch Front (Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Weber counties) accounts for roughly 80% of Utah’s population and jury volume. Outside this corridor, jury operations scale down dramatically — rural counties like Garfield or Piute may hold only a handful of jury trials per year.

Employer Obligations

Utah employers are not required to pay wages during jury service but face strong restrictions. Under Utah Code Ann. § 78B-1-116, employers cannot fire, threaten, or coerce employees for jury service, nor require use of sick leave or vacation time. Violations carry penalties of up to $500 in fines or 6 months imprisonment, plus civil liability for up to 6 weeks of lost wages. These are among the strongest anti-retaliation provisions in the country.

How Utah Compares

Utah’s $18.50/$49 tiered rate is competitive in the Mountain West — higher than Idaho’s $10–$50 county range and Arizona’s $12/day, approaching Colorado’s $50/day for subsequent days. The strong anti-retaliation protections are a meaningful differentiator. Federal jurors in Utah’s single district receive $50/day — essentially the same as Utah’s second-day state rate.

Statute: Utah Code Ann. § 78B-1-119 — Official source