SUPPORT
Juror Per Diem Donation
JUROR PER DIEM PROGRAM
Turn your jury service into more
Serving on a jury is an important way to serve your community. Now, Louisiana jurors have another opportunity to make a difference close to home. Louisiana law allows individuals serving as jurors in judicial district courts to voluntarily donate their juror per diem compensation to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Your donation helps support the local CASA program serving children and families in your community.
Your service matters. Your donation can make it go even further.
HOW IT WORKS
Small donation. Local impact.
Louisiana's statewide juror per diem donation program makes giving simple and completely voluntary. During jury orientation or another point in your jury service, your clerk of court may provide information about CASA and give you the option to donate your juror per diem compensation. If you choose to participate, your donation will be collected by the court and distributed to CASA according to the procedures established under Louisiana law.
When you choose to donate your juror per diem, your contribution supports the local CASA program serving your judicial district and community. Funds received through this program remain with local CASA programs and are used to further CASA's mission of advocating for children.That means a donation made through your local court helps strengthen advocacy for children right where you live and serve.
Serve
Fulfill your jury service and play an important role in your local justice system.
Choose to Donate
Voluntarily donate your juror per diem compensation to support CASA.
Support Local CASA
Your donation goes directly to the CASA program serving children in your community.
PROGRAM HISTORY
From pilot program to statewide opportunity
During the 2024 Louisiana Legislative Session, House Bill 905, authored by Representative Barbara Freiberg, established a two-year pilot program in the 19th Judicial District Court. Signed into law as Act 242, the legislation allowed jurors in the 19th JDC to voluntarily donate their juror per diem compensation to CASA. Through the pilot, donations directly supported Capital Area CASA and its work advocating for children in the local child welfare system. The pilot was developed through the efforts of Louisiana CASA, Capital Area CASA, community supporters, and legislative partners with the hope that the opportunity could eventually reach communities across Louisiana.
Two years later, that vision became a statewide opportunity. During the 2026 Legislative Session, Representative Freiberg authored House Bill 1011 to expand the program beyond the 19th JDC. The bill was signed into law as Act 688 and became effective August 1, 2026, making the voluntary juror per diem donation option available in judicial district courts throughout Louisiana.
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES
A trusted voice in the judicial system
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is more than a name, it’s a vital role enshrined in Louisiana law. Established under Louisiana Children’s Code Art. 424 in 1991, CASA was created to advocate for the timely placement of children in safe, stable, and loving homes. CASA volunteers are directly appointed by judges to represent the best interests of children in foster care. Backed by rigorous training and professional supervision, these volunteers serve as the court’s eyes and ears, investigating and monitoring cases to ensure no detail is overlooked. Their mission is clear: to advocate for the well-being and safety of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Across Louisiana’s judicial districts, children have access to a dedicated CASA volunteer. Judges trust CASA volunteers to provide detailed, unbiased insights that help shape life-altering decisions for the children they serve. This court-appointed role is a cornerstone of CASA’s impact, cementing its place as a trusted and legitimate partner in the judicial system.
GET INVOLVED
Make a local impact
Individual juror per diem payments may seem small, but together, those gifts can make a meaningful difference. Your donation helps local CASA programs continue their work to recruit, train, and support volunteers who advocate for children and help ensure their voices and needs are heard throughout their time in the child welfare system. By donating your juror per diem, you're choosing to reinvest your service directly into your community. Serve your community. Support a child. Strengthen local advocacy.