reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 234a § 49 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 49 - Employers or Self-Employed Jurors Excused From Payment

Section 49. The court shall have the authority to excuse an employer from the duty to compensate a juror-employee or to excuse a self-employed juror from the duty to compensate himself for the first three days, or part thereof, of trial or grand juror service upon a finding that extreme financial hardship would be imposed upon the employer or self-employed juror if such duty were not removed. If an employer or self-employed juror is so excused, the court shall award reasonable compensation in lieu of wages to the juror to be paid by the commonwealth for the first three days, or part thereof, of juror service. Such award shall not exceed fifty dollars per day of trial or grand juror service. The hearing on the employer's extreme financial hardship shall occur no later than thirty days after the tender of the juror service certificate to the employer.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 50 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 50 - Reimbursement of Unemployed Jurors for Expenses

Section 50. Each unemployed trial or grand juror upon application shall be reimbursed by the commonwealth for reasonable travel, child-care, and other necessary out-of-pocket expenses, except food, incurred during the first three days, or part thereof, of juror service. The office of jury commissioner, with the approval of the committee, shall establish guidelines for reimbursement of jurors under this section. Each reimbursement award falling outside such guidelines shall be approved by the court prior to such reimbursement. A reimbursement award under this section shall not exceed fifty dollars per day of juror service. Any juror who is not regularly employed, as provided in section forty-eight, including but not limited to retired persons, homemakers, students, and unemployed persons, shall be entitled to reimbursement upon application under this section. The application for reimbursement by a juror under this section shall be made prior to or during the judicial discretion hearings on the first morning of the term of service of such juror. An unemployed trial or grand juror receiving benefits under the laws of employment security of this commonwealth shall not lose such benefits on account of his performance of the first three days of juror service.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 51 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 51 - Payment of Trial Juror by Commonwealth

Section 51. Each trial juror who serves more than three days shall be paid by the commonwealth for the fourth day of service and each day thereafter at the rate of fifty dollars per day of service. A trial juror receiving payment under this section shall not be entitled to additional reimbursement for travel or other out-of-pocket expenses.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 52 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 52 - Grand Juror Financial Questionnaire

Section 52. Upon the commencement of grand juror service, each grand juror shall complete and sign a financial questionnaire under the penalties of perjury. The completed questionnaire shall contain the financial data necessary for the determination of a daily compensation rate for the grand juror to be paid by the commonwealth for the fourth and subsequent days of grand juror service. The questionnaire shall indicate whether or not the grand juror is employed and, if so, the regular daily wages of the juror and the daily compensation the juror expects to receive from his employer while performing grand juror service. The questionnaire shall indicate travel expenses, if any, in excess of those ordinarily incurred by the juror, as a result of grand juror service. The questionnaire shall be in such form and shall contain such further information as deemed appropriate by the jury commissioner with the approval of the committee. The court, clerk of court, or assistant clerk may make inquiry to a grand juror's employer for the purpose of corroborating or clarifying information supplied by the grand juror or to ascertain relevant policies of the employer. The information supplied by grand jurors in these questionnaires shall be held confidential by the court, clerk of court, and assistant clerks. A grand juror shall notify the court if at any time during the period of his grand juror service the information provided by the juror in the financial question changes or becomes obsolete. A notice of this duty shall appear prominently on the questionnaire. The completed questionnaires shall be kept on file in the office of the clerk of court for one year after the discharge of the grand jury. Completed questionnaires shall not constitute a public record.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 53 - Private Hearing to Determine Rate of Compensation of Grand Juror

Section 53. On the first day of grand juror service, the court shall hold a private hearing with each impanelled grand juror. The purpose of this hearing shall be to determine a daily compensation rate for each grand juror, not exceeding fifty dollars per day of service, to be paid by the commonwealth to the juror for the fourth and subsequent days of grand juror service. In this hearing the court shall consider the information contained in the grand juror financial questionnaire and other relevant information. For each day of service, a grand juror shall be entitled to receive, cumulatively from his employer and the commonwealth, an amount equal to the greater of the following two rates: fifty dollars per day or an amount not in excess of the regular daily wages plus daily travel expenses in excess of those ordinarily incurred by the juror; provided, however, that the contribution by the commonwealth to this amount shall not exceed fifty dollars per day.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 54 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 54 - Payment of Grand Juror by Commonwealth

Section 54. Each grand juror who serves more than three days shall be paid by the commonwealth for the fourth day of service and each day of service thereafter at the daily compensation rate for the particular grand juror determined under the section fifty-three.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 55 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 55 - Compensation of Absent, Alternate, Standby Jurors and Jurors on Telephone Notice; Credit During Adjournments

Section 55. A juror, including a standby juror and a juror on telephone notice, shall not be compensated by the commonwealth or credited with a day of service except for days on which the juror actually appeared as directed to perform juror service, unless provided otherwise in this chapter. A juror who is absent from service because of serious illness or other compelling reason, as determined by the court or office of jury commissioner, shall be credited with a day of juror service. Jurors shall not be compensated by the commonwealth nor credited with a day of service for a holiday or for business day on which a trial has been adjourned except as hereinafter provided. An employed juror who will lose compensation for a holiday because he is performing juror service or who will not be permitted to return to work during an unexpected adjournment may be awarded credit for a day of service or may be awarded reasonable compensation, not exceeding fifty dollars per day, by the court upon a finding that financial hardship would be imposed upon the juror in the absence of such an award. An alternate juror shall receive the same payments and reimbursements from his employer and the commonwealth as a juror. A standby juror may be reimbursed by the court or the office of jury commissioner for reasonable telephone and travel expenses incurred as a result of the performance of the conditions of standby status even though the standby juror may not perform juror service. Such reimbursement shall not exceed fifty dollars per day.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 56 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 56 - Special Awards of Compensation and Reimbursement; Expenses; Special Arrangements

Section 56. Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, the court shall have authority to make special awards of compensation and reimbursement to any juror or to any other person on behalf of a juror based on unusual circumstances, or awards of compensation and reimbursement for the fair administration of this chapter. The court may provide for reasonable costs and expenses including food, lodging, transportation, and amenities of sequestered jurors. The court may make special arrangements for handicapped and elderly jurors or handicapped and elderly dependents of jurors. The court may provide for the security, comfort, or emergency medical services for jurors. The court may reimburse a juror for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred because of personal injury or property loss suffered by the juror while performing juror service upon a finding that the commonwealth is liable therefor or that it is in the best interests of the administration of the jury system of the commonwealth to do so.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 56a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 56a - Meals for Jurors in Accordance With Their Religious Requirements

Section 56A. The court shall provide, upon request of a juror, meals consisting of food or food products prepared in accordance with the religious requirements of such juror when meals would otherwise be provided during any period in which the jury has been sequestered by the court. The court shall inform the jurors of their rights under this section.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 57 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 57 - Juror Service Certificate; Contents

Section 57. The juror service certificate shall contain the name and address of the juror; the name, address, and judicial district of the court in which the juror service was performed; the week in which the certificate applies; the number of days of jurors service performed by the juror during the said week, and the specific dates thereof; the total compensation received by the juror from the commonwealth during the said week; a declaration of the duty of an employer to compensate a juror-employee for the first three days, or part thereof, of trial juror service and the right of an employer to be excused from such duty by the court upon showing of extreme financial hardship; and any other information which the jury commissioner deems appropriate. Each juror service certificate shall be completed in duplicate, one copy for the juror, one copy for the employer of the juror.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 58 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 58 - Juror Service Certificates; Tender to Employer for Compensation

Section 58. The office of jury commissioner shall provide juror service certificates to all grand and trial jurors who perform juror service. Such certificates shall be provided not later than 14 days after the last business day of each week in which a grand or trial juror performs jury service. A juror who seeks compensation from his employer for juror service shall tender the employer's copy of the service certificate to his employer as soon as practical after its receipt. A notice of this duty shall appear prominently on the certificate.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 59 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 59 - Form of Payment of Grand and Trial Jurors Paid by Commonwealth

Section 59. Grand and trial jurors in participating counties shall receive compensation due from the commonwealth by check on a weekly basis. Each check shall include all compensation for juror services and authorized reimbursements incurred by the juror during the previous week. The office of jury commissioner may prepare and mail these checks. The comptroller of the commonwealth may establish a separate account for juror compensation and reimbursement under this chapter. The office of jury commissioner may draw upon this account for all checks issued under this section. The checks may be issued with data processing equipment, and a printed or stamped facsimile signature of the jury commissioner shall be authorized. No check shall be valid if the amount is greater than three hundred and fifty dollars. The office of jury commissioner shall not be authorized to disburse monies for sequestered jurors expenses or other special awards ordered by the court; these disbursements shall be handled in the office of the clerk of court.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 60 - Employer Liability for Failure to Pay Juror-Employee

Section 60. Any employer who fails to compensate a juror-employee under the applicable provisions of this chapter and who has not been excused from such duty or compensation shall be liable to the juror-employee in tort. Upon the expiration of thirty days after the tender of the juror service certificate to the employer, the juror may commence a civil action in any superior or district court having jurisdiction over the parties. Extreme financial hardship on the employer shall not be a defense to this action. The court may award treble damages and reasonable attorney fees to the juror upon a finding of wilful conduct by the employer.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 61 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 61 - Violation of Sec. 60; Harassment, Etc. of Employee

Section 61. Any willful violation of section sixty of this chapter by an employer shall also constitute a violation of this section. A juror seeking a civil remedy against an employer shall have an election to proceed either under section sixty or under this section. An employer shall not deprive a juror-employee of his employment or any incidents or benefits thereof, nor shall an employer harass, threaten, or coerce an employee because the employee has received a juror summons, responds thereto, performs any obligation or election of juror service as a grand or trial juror, or exercises any right under any section of this chapter. An employer shall not impose compulsory work assignments upon any juror-employee nor shall the employer do any other intentional act which will substantially interfere with the availability, effectiveness, attentiveness, or peace of mind of the employee during the performance of his juror service. Any employer who violates this section shall be guilty of a crime and, upon conviction, may be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars. Any employer who violates this section also shall be liable in tort to the juror-employee. The juror-employee may commence a civil action in the superior court for such damages and injunctive relief as may be appropriate. The court may award treble damages and reasonable attorney's fees to the juror upon a finding of willful conduct by the employer. The legal counsel for the office of jury commissioner may submit an application for the issuance of a criminal complaint in any court of competent jurisdiction against an employer who has violated this section or section sixty.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 62 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 62 - Trial Juror's Handbook

Section 62. Not later than ten days prior to the term of service of each trial juror, the office of jury commissioner shall provide each juror a copy of the trial juror's handbook. The handbook shall notify the juror of his pending juror service. The handbook shall inform jurors in lay terminology of the nature and extent of their forthcoming duties and responsibilities. The handbook may introduce and orient jurors to basic trial procedures and legal terminology. The office of jury commissioner shall provide maps and directions to the jury-trial locations and such other practical information as the jury commissioner deems appropriate. The full text of the handbook shall be specified in the regulations of the jury commissioner. Each trial juror shall read the handbook before he reports for juror service. The handbook shall be a public document. The jury commissioner may distribute copies of the handbook, and related educational materials, to public and private schools, civic organizations, the press, and others, in order to promote citizens awareness and understanding of all aspects of the juror system of this commonwealth. The jury commissioner may, with the approval of the committee, distribute or exhibit to jurors further educational materials, recordings, films, videotapes, lectures, and the like, as he deems appropriate to assist such persons in understanding and fulfilling their duties and obligations as jurors. Not later than ten days prior to each grand juror's term of service, the office of jury commissioner shall provide each juror such educational materials and practical instructions as are deemed appropriate by the jury commissioner to assist grand jurors in carrying out their duties and responsibilities. These materials shall be approved by the committee. In the event of any conflict, the instructions or charge of the trial judge in a particular case shall be paramount and shall supersede the trial juror handbook or grand juror general information provided under this section.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 63 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 63 - Telephone Lines Established by Office of Jury Commissioner

Section 63. The office of jury commissioner, with the approval of the committee, may establish a sufficient number of telephone lines for the purposes of responding to juror inquiries, scheduling jurors' terms of service, disseminating general information and standby information to jurors, and for use in snow emergencies, other public emergencies, and personal problems and emergencies of jurors. Automatic telephone answering devices may be used where appropriate. These information lines may be toll-free where justified by the volume of use and public convenience. Juror information lines and automatic answering equipment may be located in juror pools or other appropriate locations outside of the office of jury commissioner.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 64 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 64 - Juror Orientation

Section 64. On the first morning of juror service, grand and trial jurors shall be oriented by the court as to their duties and responsibilities. The court may include such other general information and instruction as it deems appropriate. The court may use a videotaped presentation for this orientation. In the event of any conflict, the instructions or charge of the trial judge in a particular case shall supersede the general information provided to jurors in the orientation program. The office of jury commissioner, with the approval of the committee, may prepare such videotaped materials and other materials as are appropriate for use in the juror orientation programs. The office of jury commissioner may permit juror orientation materials to be used for educational purposes by schools, civic organizations, the press, and other groups in order to foster improved public understanding of the jury system. Unless the court orders otherwise, members of the public may be present in the juror pool during juror orientation programs for educational purposes.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 65 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 65 - Welcoming Address to Jurors

Section 65. Following the juror orientation program, a member of the court shall personally appear before the jurors and make a brief welcoming address. The office of jury commissioner, with the approval of the committee, may prepare suggested guidelines for the format and content of the welcome to the jurors. Unless the court orders otherwise, members of the public may be present in the juror pool during the welcoming address for educational purposes.
MA Gen L ch 234a § 66 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 234a - Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth|Section 66 - Judicial Discretion Hearing With Juror or Employer

Section 66. Following the welcome to the jurors, the court shall hold a private hearing with each juror or employer of a juror who requests to be heard. The purpose of such hearings shall be to dispose of all urgent personal problems of jurors and employers as to possible excuses, postponements, limitations on length of juror service, compensation, reimbursement, qualifications for juror service, or any other condition of juror service. The office of jury commissioner, with the approval of the committee, may prepare suggested guidelines for the judicial discretion hearing. The court may permit observers in the judicial discretion hearing for educational purposes as long as the identities of jurors are kept confidential by such observers and the personal decorum of the hearing is not lost thereby.