Reporting to the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa? Florida handles jury pay a bit differently depending on your employment status. Here is the breakdown for Hillsborough County.
Florida law has a unique quirk. For the first three days of jury service, if your employer continues to pay your regular wages, you receive $0 from the court. The state assumes you are already being made whole.
If you are unemployed, retired, self-employed, or if your employer does not pay you for jury duty, the court will pay you $15 per day for the first three days.
If a trial lasts 4 days or more, every juror receives $30 per day starting on the fourth day, regardless of their employment status.
Hillsborough County does not typically pay a per-mile travel allowance for local state courts. However, they do provide free parking in the designated juror lot (usually the Pierce Street Garage). Bring your parking ticket inside to get it stamped!
If your job refuses to pay you, you are entitled to the $15/day from the court. You will simply check a box on your juror form stating that your employer is not compensating you. Note that Florida law strictly prohibits employers from firing you for attending jury duty.
If your job pays you, the court pays nothing for the first three days. Otherwise, expect $15 a day initially, bumping to $30 a day for longer trials. Parking in the Pierce Street Garage is validated.