1. What if I cannot speak, read, and understand English?
¿Qué si yo no puedo hablar, leer, y no entender inglés?
En Espanol: Una persona que no tiene la capacidad de leer, hablar y comprender el idioma inglés no califica para prestar servicio como jurado y podría quedar descalificado por ello. El jurado en potencia deberá acceder al Portal de Jurados y llenar el cuestionario de calificación, respondiendo a la pregunta #4: “¿Puede usted leer, hablar y comprender inglés?” se le indicará cuando responda sí o no si su falta de capacidad se debe a alguna discapacidad de la vista o del oído. La información potencialmente descalificadora será enviada a la corte para ser revisada. También se puede contactar a la “oficina local de jurados” para solicitar el motivo de la descalificación.
Si usted no logra llenar el formulario de descalificación en línea, otra persona podría ayudarle a hacerlo, o puede comunicarse con la corte del contado para indicar que no ha logrado llenar el formulario en línea debido a que no puede leer, hablar o comprender inglés.
Si se determina de un examinación de la forma de calificación de jurado que usted no es calificados a sirve como un jurado, usted será notificado, no será requerido a se conforma con el convoca, y será borrado de la lista magistral del jurado. Así, usted debe aparecer en el tribunal en la fecha en su convoca a menos que usted recibe otra notificación.
A in English: A person who cannot read, speak and understand the English language is not eligible for jury service and may be disqualified. The juror must log on to the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire answering the Qualification Questionnaire #4. “Do you read, speak and understand English?” You will be prompted when answering yes or no if your inability to read, speak and understand English is due to a vision or hearing impairment. The disqualifying information will be sent to the court for review. You may also contact your local jury offices with reason requesting the disqualification.
If you are unable to fill out the juror qualification form online, another person may assist filling it out for you, or contact the county court in which you are unable to complete the form online due to your inability to read, speak and understand English.
If it is determined from an examination of the juror qualification form that you are not qualified to serve as a juror, you will be notified, will not be required to comply with the summons, and will be deleted from the master jury list. Thus, you should appear in court on the date on your summons unless you receive other notification.
2. Can my employer discipline or fire me?
A: No. Under Missouri law, an employer cannot terminate, discipline, threaten, or take adverse action against an employee on account of that employee's receipt of or response to a jury summons. Any employee discharged due to jury service may bring a civil action against his or her employer within ninety days of discharge for recovery of lost wages and other damages caused by the violation and for an order directing reinstatement of the employee. (Section 494.455.)
3. Am I required to take annual, vacation, personal, or sick leave for time spent performing jury service?
A: No. Under Missouri law, an employer cannot require or request an employee to use annual, vacation, personal, or sick leave for time spent:
- Responding to a summons for jury duty.
- Participating in the jury selection process
- Serving on jury
4. How much do I get paid?
A: By law, each juror receives at least $6.00 per day for every day he or she actually serves and seven cents for every mile traveled to and from his or her residence and the courthouse. Most counties pay more. Select local jury offices to view your county's compensation amount.
5. What if I care for a dependent child or adult?
A: If you have a dependent child or adult under your care, you may ask for a postponement or excuse from jury service. Please keep in mind that many citizens care for dependent children or adults, and only those situations that would impose an "extreme hardship" in the judgment of the court may be excused. (Section 494.430.)
6. Why do I always get summoned but other people don't?
A: All people selected for jury service are selected at random. (Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you flip a coin, heads will come up two or three times before tails, but eventually the odds will even out?) Counties may choose juror names randomly from the Missouri Department of Revenue driver's license records and from voter registration rolls.
See also Common Question number 7.
7. What if I have been called twice or already have served in the past year?
A: If you have served on a state court jury within the preceding two years and received a questionnaire to serve as a juror, you can request to be excused from service. The juror must log in to the Juror Portal and complete the questionnaire. Within the Questionnaire section, question #10 “Have you served as a juror before?” Answering yes will prompt a follow up question to obtain further information about your previous jury service. At the end of completing the questionnaire you may be prompted to select the excuse or may contact your local jury offices. However, you may be required to serve on multiple juries during your term of service, depending on the term of jury service in your county or city.
8. What should I do if I need special accommodations?
A: If you have a disability. After logging in to the Juror Portal and completing the questionnaire you may upload a document on the Jury Home page letting the local jury office know what type of assistance you would need. If you have questions about special services or devices that may be available to enable you to better participate in court proceedings, contact the local jury office. If they cannot reasonably accommodate you, you may be excused from jury service.
9. How long does a trial take?
A: The length of trials varies depending on how complex the issues are and how long jurors spend in deliberations. In Missouri, based on the trials that occurred last year, most trials are completed in about two days.
10. Why do I have to wait around so much as a juror?
A: The judge, court staff, and attorneys work hard to reduce the time you spend waiting as a juror. However, waiting cannot be completely eliminated, for many reasons. For example, the lawyers may present a point of law to the judge that ought not to be argued in front of the jury. Although you may not see it, very often a delay actually saves time and brings the case to a quicker conclusion. In many counties, you may wish to come prepared with reading material or other means to occupy your time while waiting outside of the trial. Select local jury offices to see which counties permit such materials.
During trial, there are occasions when the lawyers may approach the bench. At such times, matters of law or procedure are being discussed. Because such discussions are between the judge and lawyers only, having the lawyers approach the bench avoids the inconvenience of sending the jury from the courtroom. Because the jury decides a case on factual issues alone, the discussions of law and procedure must take place outside of the jury's hearing to avoid confusing the issues or influencing the jurors. Do not draw any conclusions as to what is being said out of your hearing.
11. Can I take notes or ask questions during the trial?
A: In some cases, you may be permitted to take notes or ask questions. The judge will inform you if you are permitted to so.
12. Is my privacy protected during and after the trial?
A: The judge will take your privacy into consideration when making decisions about the case. The judge must balance the requirement in the Constitution that guarantees people a public trial on the one side and the juror's real concerns about privacy on the other side. If you have concerns about privacy, please let the judge know. If a newspaper or television reporter, or a lawyer or a friend of one of the people involved in the case, approaches you during the trial, let the judge know immediately. Such contact is inappropriate during a trial. After the trial is over, the media and the parties in the case can contact you, but you do not have to talk to them.
13. How can I get out of jury service?
A: Jury service is the civic duty of every eligible adult in Missouri. This service to your community is the most direct, hands-on involvement in government that most Missourians will experience. The law provides, however, several categories that, upon timely application to the court, excuse a summoned juror. (Section 494.430.) If applicable for your county, after completing the questionnaire through the Juror Portal, you may be able to request an excuse on the Jury Home page. The excuse will be sent to the court for review or you may contact the local jury offices. You may have to appear in court on the date on your summons in order to explain to the judge the reason for your excuse.
14. What if I think a mistake was made and I am not eligible for jury service?
A: A person is eligible for jury service if he or she is a United States citizen; at least age 21; a resident of the county or city unless serving in another county by order of the court; not convicted of a felony unless restored to civil rights; and able to read, speak, and understand the English language.
Active military, judges and persons who the court or jury commissioners find incapable because of mental or physical illness are ineligible to serve. (Sections 494.425, 494.505.)
After logging in to the Juror Portal and answering the Qualification Questionnaire you may be disqualified from serving as a juror if you are not eligible. The disqualifying information will be sent to the court for review. A person may also contact the local jury office with reason requesting the disqualification. If it is determined from an examination of the juror qualification form that a person is not qualified to serve as a juror, the juror will be notified, will not be required to comply with the summons, and will be deleted from the master jury list. Thus, you should appear in court on the date on your summons unless otherwise notified.
15. Can I postpone jury service?
A: If you are unable to serve during the time requested on your summons, if applicable for your county, after completing the questionnaire through the Juror Portal, you may be able to request a postponement on the Jury Home page or contact your local jury office. You may apply to postpone your service to a later date. You may have to appear at the courthouse in order to tell the judge the reasons why you cannot serve. Please be prepared to come to court on the date the summons says.
16. What should I wear to the courthouse?
A: While you need not "dress up," appropriate attire is requested. In keeping with the dignity and serious nature of court proceedings, in most courtrooms, participants may not wear hats, t-shirts, tank tops, tube tops, cut-offs or shorts. If you have questions concerning attire, contact your local jury office.
To view statutory sections, visit the Revisor of Statutes website.