LOS ANGELES - Jurors in Los Angeles will be offered a special pass providing free public transit to and from any of the 23 county courthouses where jury trials are held in lieu of the standard mileage reimbursement, officials announced Wednesday.
Jurors and potential jurors may use the EPass to travel free within the LA Metro system and other local transit agencies. The program aims to provide timely and equal access by reducing the stress of travel, gas and parking costs for round-trip transportation to courthouses using the county's public transit systems, Presiding Judge Samantha Jessner said.
"This universal transit pass will make it easier for residents to use public transportation for free to travel to the courthouse for jury service," Jessner said in a statement.
"On behalf of the court, I would like to thank LA Metro and our other transit partners for their support. As the largest trial court in the nation, we take pride in developing innovative solutions to ensure that we promote equitable access to justice and diversity in our jury pools."
The juror mileage allowance remains an option at 34 cents per mile and is now available for round trips up to a maximum of $12 per day as a result of recent legislation. The EPass is available to all jurors or potential jurors at the end of their first day of service.
The EPass -- the result of a partnership between the court and Metro -- can be used for any combination of bus and rail travel via local and Metro and is good for the duration of jury service. EPass is valid for all Metro bus, liner, microTransit, rapid and rail services as well as with partner transit agencies.
"Metro is proud to partner with the court and 11 other regional transit agencies to provide EPass to people completing their public service through jury duty," Stephanie Wiggins, CEO of Metro, said in a statement.
"No one should be disenfranchised from jury service because they lack the means to get to the courthouse, and Metro is pleased to do its part to ensure that all LA County citizens can participate in our justice system," she added.