NEW JUROR “EPASS” PROVIDES FREE PUBLIC TRANSIT OPTION FOR JURORS THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY
EPass Gives Jurors Free, Two-Way Bus/Rail Transit Anywhere in LA County
A partnership between the Court and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) offers all jurors an EPass that provides free public transit to and from jury service at any of the Court’s 23 courthouses where jury trials are heard, Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner and Executive Officer/Clerk of Court David W. Slayton announced today.
Jurors and potential jurors may use the EPass to travel free within the LA Metro system and other local transit agencies. This program builds on the Court’s mission of providing timely and equal access to justice by reducing the stress of travel, gas, and parking costs for round-trip transportation to courthouses using the county’s public transit systems.
“This universal transit pass will make it easier for residents to use public transportation for free to travel to the courthouse for jury service,” Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner said. “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.”
“I am proud of the Court’s proactive efforts to unify countywide and local transit agencies in the shared purpose of promoting juror participation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to improve our air quality,” said Slayton, who also serves as the jury commissioner. “I also want to thank LA Metro for its continued partnership with the Court and its critical role in working with other local transit agencies to make this program easy and beneficial for county residents. We are working together to promote the mutual goals and purpose of public transportation and jury service, which is fundamental to our democracy as the cornerstone of our justice system.”
“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,” said Stephanie Wiggins, CEO of Metro. “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.”
The Court will provide jurors an EPass upon request in lieu of the standard juror mileage reimbursement. The juror mileage allowance remains an option at $.34 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 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 the following partner transit agencies:
- Antelope Valley Transit
- Culver CityBus
- Foothill Transit (Silver Streak only)
- Gardena Transit (Gtrans)
- LADOT DASH
- Long Beach Transit
- Montebello Bus Lines
- Norwalk Transit
- Pasadena Transit
- Santa Monica Big Blue Bus
- Torrance Transit
The availability of EPass expands the Court’s ongoing efforts to make it easier and less expensive for jurors to travel to and from jury service. The benefits of EPass go beyond increasing civic engagement and diversifying the Court’s jury pools. For millions of potential jurors summoned to the Court each year, EPass provides a free, environmentally friendly option that will eliminate the stress associated with traffic and parking.
For more information, follow the Court on Twitter (@LASuperiorCourt) or visit LACourt.org.
You can view the full notice here.
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