GA Code § 15-12-7 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 15 - Courts|Chapter 12 - Juries|Article 1 - General Provisions|§ 15-12-7. Compensation of Court Bailiffs and Expense Allowance for Trial or Grand Jurors

  The first grand jury impaneled at the fall term of the superior courts of the several counties shall fix:   The compensation of court bailiffs in the superior courts of such counties for the next succeeding year, such compensation not to be less than $5.00 per diem. The same compensation shall be allowed to bailiffs of the several state courts and special courts as is allowed bailiffs in the superior court of the county in which the state or special court is located;   An expense allowance for trial or grand jurors in the superior courts of such counties for the next succeeding year not to be less than $5.00 nor to exceed $50.00 per diem. The same expense allowance shall be allowed to jurors of the several state courts and special courts as is allowed jurors in the superior court of the county in which the state or special court is located; and   An expense allowance for grand jurors, such expense allowance not to be less than $5.00 nor to exceed $50.00 per diem.     Any increase in the compensation of court bailiffs or increases in expense allowances for jurors fixed by a grand jury shall be subject to the approval of the governing authority of the county.    (Orig. Code 1863, § 3846; Code 1868, § 3866; Ga. L. 1871-72, p. 47, § 4; Code 1873, § 3940; Ga. L. 1878-79, p. 190, § 1; Code 1882, § 3940; Ga. L. 1890-91, p. 80, § 1; Ga. L. 1895, p. 74, § 1; Penal Code 1895, § 872; Penal Code 1910, § 876; Ga. L. 1919, p. 104, § 1; Code 1933, § 59-120; Ga. L. 1946, p. 72, § 1; Ga. L. 1957, p. 43, § 1; Ga. L. 1966, p. 442, § 1; Ga. L. 1971, p. 205, § 1; Ga. L. 1972, p. 1132, § 1; Ga. L. 1974, p. 325, § 1; Ga. L. 1975, p. 684, § 1; Ga. L. 1979, p. 601, § 1; Ga. L. 1981, p. 685, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 616, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 242, § 1; Ga. L. 1995, p. 790, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 836, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1587, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 168, § 1/HB 1086; Ga. L. 2011, p. 59, § 1-8/HB 415; Ga. L. 2014, p. 862, § 5/HB 1078.)    The 2014 amendment,  effective April 29, 2014, inserted "trial or grand" near the beginning of the first sentence of paragraph (a)(2).   Cross references.   - Compensation of grand jurors and trial jurors, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. I, Sec. I, Para. XI.    Discrimination against employee for attending a judicial proceeding in response to a court order or process, § 34-1-3.   Editor's notes.   - Ga. L. 2011, p. 59, § 1-1/HB 415, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "This Act shall be known and may be cited as the 'Jury Composition Reform Act of 2011.'"   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   Intent of section.    - This section reveals an intent to effectuate three purposes: (1) to fix by law a maximum for compensation of bailiffs; (2) to vest in the county authorities of each county the right to determine the amount of compensation in that county, not to exceed such maximum; and (3) to authorize and require the county authorities to reexamine the question of compensation and fix the amount once each year. Carroll v. Ragsdale, 192 Ga. 118, 15 S.E.2d 210 (1941).    Cited in Tanner v. Rosser, 89 Ga. 811, 15 S.E. 750 (1892); Chambers v. State, 22 Ga. App. 748, 97 S.E. 256 (1918); Holloway v. State, 178 Ga. App. 141, 342 S.E.2d 363 (1986); Walden v. State, 185 Ga. App. 413, 364 S.E.2d 304 (1987); Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Auth. v. Partridge, 187 Ga. App. 637, 371 S.E.2d 185 (1988); Stinski v. State, 286 Ga. 839, 691 S.E.2d 854 (2010).   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Uniformed members of Georgia State Patrol serving as jurors.    - Uniformed members of the Georgia State Patrol who are subpoenaed and accepted for jury duty may legally accept payment pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of O.C.G.A. § 15-12-7 and should be placed on "court leave" while serving on a jury in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board. 1984 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 84-76.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 47 Am. Jur. 2d, Jury, § 100.   C.J.S.   - 50A C.J.S., Juries, § 351.