Jurors in the lengthy Norman LaRue murder trial were paid more than the average jury for their three months of work, the Department of Justice confirmed today.

Justice Scott Brooker, who oversaw the three-month trial in Yukon Supreme Court, used his power under the territory's regulations to bump the daily jury sitting fee to $100 a day.

The Yukon's Jury Act regulations permit a judge to bump up the standard daily fee of $80 in "exceptional circumstances.”

In the case of LaRue, who was eventually convicted of first-degree murder in the 2008 death of 63-year-old Gordon Seybold earlier this month, the jury received the standard rate in the beginning of the case.

Then, effective Monday April 22, the judge raised the fee.

"His consideration of that consisted of him recognizing the hardship of these citizens committing three months of sitting on the jury and the longer hours,” said Sheri Blaker, the acting director of court services.

During the trial, court could go as late as 4:30 p.m. — later than the average court day.

Jurors usually sat from Mondays to Thursdays and periodically had days off because someone was sick or the lawyers needed to make arguments in front of the judge alone.

But Brooker also saw to it that they were paid for five days a week, whether the jury was required in court or not, for a total of $500 a week.

"Because they had to put their lives on hold to do this, they were paid whether they had to sit or not,” Blaker said.

The LaRue trial sitting fees totalled $81,740, based on a total of 84 days.

Blaker said she didn't have a breakdown for how much each juror received.

The trial arguments began in April with 14 jurors. By the time LaRue was convicted of first-degree murder, two of those members had been excused for medical reasons.

Jurors in the Yukon are paid starting from the day they are chosen to sit on the jury.

Jury selection in the LaRue case began April 2, and opening arguments for the case were heard on April 5.

Jurors in this case received a cheque every two weeks, Blaker said. That's something else that is uncommon in the Yukon court system.

"Normally, a jury trial lasts three to five days. That's what we would consider a normal or average length trial. Then we pay them at the end of the trial.”

LaRue is not the first person to be convicted for Seybold's death. Last year, LaRue's then-girlfriend, Christina Asp, was convicted of second-degree murder.

In the Asp case, the judge did not seek to increase the sitting fees. Those 14 jurors were paid a total of $65,040 based on 100 days of sitting.

The daily fee in the Yukon was raised in 2007. Prior to that, jurors received only $40 a day.

Each jurisdiction across the country sets its own rules when it comes to paying jurors.

For example, in Ontario, jurors are paid $40 a day starting on the 11th day of a trial. That rises to $100 a day for days 50 or more.

British Columbia pays $20 a day for first 10 days, $60 a day for days 11-49 and $100 a day for days 50 or more.

Jurors in Newfoundland are not paid for their services, but the government does pay for expenses like taxis, milage and childcare.

The fee in the Yukon is the same as some other jurisdictions, including Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.

The Yukon regulations allow for meals and milage if you live 50 kilometres or more from the courthouse and accommodations if you live more than 100 kilometres from the courthouse, though that is rarely the case.

When jurors are sequestered to consider their verdict, they are sent to a hotel and their meals are paid for.

The TVs and phones are taken from their individual rooms.

"They're not allowed any electronic devices where they can get media feedback or access to media during the sequestering,” Blaker said.

Jurors are not even allowed to talk to each other if they are outside the room where they are deliberating.

A jury guard sits outside the hotel rooms overnight to make sure no one goes in or out.

As to whether there is value to increasing the standard jury fee in the territory, Blaker said the government is constantly reviewing its practices.

She points out that the regulations allow a judge to hike the fee when necessary. The Asp and LaRue trials were exceptions to what is normally seen in the territory, she said.

Officials are currently preparing a breakdown of exactly how much the two trials cost.