FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
On the day you are to report, please plan on being at the courthouse the entire day, occasionally after 4:00 p.m. The jury selection process is usually completed in one day but may take longer in some cases. Most jurors go through only one selection process and those not selected for the jury panel are released at the end of the selection. If you are selected as a juror in a case the average length of a trial is about 3 days. During the selection process you will be told how long the particular case you are being considered for is expected to last.
You will report to the Lawrence County Judicial Building located at 240 N. Main St., Mt. Vernon, MO. To verify your report date and time call the automated message line (417-466-2471) after 5:00 p.m. the evening before your scheduled report date. Report time is typically 8:00 a.m.
A person who willfully fails to appear for jury service is in civil contempt of court. The Court may issue an order directing the person to a hearing where the person would be required to show good cause for failure to appear as summoned. If the individual fails to show good cause for failing to appear, the Court may impose a fine for as much as $500 and may order the prospective juror to perform community service for a time no less than would have been spent in jury service. The juror is also re-summoned for jury service.
Parking is available in the Judicial Building Parking lot located across the street from the judicial building and around the square. Please allow ample time for parking.
Appropriate dress is required. Think business casual. Jeans are allowed but shorts, tank tops, and tee-shirts are not considered appropriate. Hats are not allowed in the courtroom. Temperatures in the building vary and it is recommended that you bring a sweater or jacket with you.
Yes, cell phones are allowed to be brought into the judicial building for Jurors. You will be asked to leave all belongings in the Jury Assembly Room. Laptops and other electronic devices are not allowed.
Yes, cell phones are allowed to be brought into the judicial building for Jurors. You will be asked to leave all belongings in the Jury Assembly Room. Laptops and other electronic devices are not allowed.
If you appear for jury selection, you will receive $10 per day and $0.17 per mile round trip from your residence to the Judicial Building. If you are selected as a Juror your pay will be $20.00 per day. You will receive a Mastercard debit card the first day of trial. It usually takes about 10-14 days to load the money on the cards due to the process with the County. If you have provided your Cell Phone number and/or Email address on your Juror Questionnaire, you will receive a text and/or email when the funds have been loaded.
The law does not require an employer to pay regular wages while an employee is serving on jury duty however some employers do. We suggest you ask your employer for their jury service policy.
No, Missouri Revised Statute 494.460 prohibits an employer from taking adverse actions against an employee because that employee received or responded to a jury summons. In addition, an employee may not be required to use available leave for time spent responding to a jury summons, time spent participating in the jury selection process, or time spent actually serving on a jury.
No. If you completed Lawrence County jury service in the last 24 months you are entitled to be excused. Log into Juror Portal website at www.courts.mo.gov/jurorportal, complete the qualification form and questionnaire, and select Excuse Code “Served within Last 24 Months.” If you served under a different name or different address please enter that information. If you would like to serve again you are free to do so by not selecting the Excuse option.
Please write “Not At This Address” on the summons envelope and return it to us by placing it in the mail.
Log onto the Show-Me Jury Juror Portal website at www.courts.mo.gov/jurorportal. Using the nine-digit ID on the summons log into the qualification form and affirm that the summoned individual is deceased.
You must be 21 years of age to serve as a juror and Missouri does not have a maximum age limit for jury service. You may request to be excused if you are over 75 years of age.
Only current residents of Lawrence County are eligible for jury service. If you do not live in Lawrence County log into Show-Me Jury Juror Portal at www.courts.mo.gov/jurorportal, complete the qualification form and questionnaire, being sure to update your name and address information. If you enter an email address or cell phone number we will notify you of your disqualification. DO NOT appear for jury service.
Any person licensed as a health care provider as such term is defined in Missouri Revised Statute 538.205, may be excused, but only if such person provides a written statement to the Court certifying that he/she is actually providing health care services to patients, and that the person’s service as a juror would be detrimental to the health of the person’s patients. Use the Show-Me Jury Juror Portal website at www.courts.mo.gov/jurorportal to notify the jury office of your status.
Because of the importance of assuring that individuals from throughout the community participate in the jury process, the Court generally does not excuse individuals based on financial hardship at the initial summons stage of the process. Instead, hardships are discussed during jury selection for a trial. If you believe your circumstances fall within the provisions contained in Missouri Revised Statute 494.430 you need to request an excuse on the Show-Me Jury Juror Portal website at www.courts.mo.gov/jurorportal. Be specific and provide information such as business name and type, financial, medical, and/or other proof regarding your hardship. If postponing your service to a later date would help you to be able to make arrangement you have the right to a one time postponement.
Because of the importance of assuring that individuals from throughout the community participate in the jury process, the Court generally does not excuse individuals based on financial hardship at the initial summons stage of the process. Instead, hardships are discussed during jury selection for a trial. If you believe your circumstances fall within the provisions contained in Missouri Revised Statute 494.430 you need to request an excuse on the Show-Me Jury Juror Portal website at www.courts.mo.gov/jurorportal. Be specific and provide information such as business name and type, financial, medical, and/or other proof regarding your hardship. If postponing your service to a later date would help you to be able to make arrangement you have the right to a one time postponement.
Because of the importance of assuring that individuals from throughout the community participate in the jury process, the Court generally does not excuse individuals based on financial hardship at the initial summons stage of the process. Instead, hardships are discussed during jury selection for a trial. If you believe your circumstances fall within the provisions contained in Missouri Revised Statute 494.430 you need to request an excuse on the Show-Me Jury Juror Portal website at www.courts.mo.gov/jurorportal. Be specific and provide information such as business name and type, financial, medical, and/or other proof regarding your hardship. If postponing your service to a later date would help you to be able to make arrangement you have the right to a one time postponement.
No, the Court does not provide childcare services. Please DO NOT bring your child(ren) when reporting for jury service. Arrangements for the care of your child(ren) should be made prior to reporting for jury service.
Lunch is not provided. You may bring your own lunch if you wish, or you may purchase lunch from one of several restaurants located within easy driving distance of the judicial building. If you choose to bring your lunch DO NOT bring metal cutlery as it will be confiscated by security personnel.
After completing the online qualification, you will be able to enter dates that you will be unavailable. You may also call the Circuit Clerk’s Office at 417-466-2471 and provide these dates to the Jury Clerk who can manually enter them for you.
Yes, if you have not previously been postponed.
Upon timely request, individuals scheduled to appear for jury service have the right to postpone the date of their initial appearance for jury service one time. The postponement date must be between 6 weeks and six months of the original summons date, except in the case of full-time students. Full-time students of any accredited institution may be postponed up to twelve months from their original summons date.
Because each prospective juror is entitled to only one postponement, you will be required to serve on the date to which you are postponed.
To request a postponement, log onto Show-Me Jury eJuror at www.courts.mo.gov/ejuror, complete the qualification form and questionnaire, select the “Postpone” button on the Jury Homepage, and enter a new report date. You will receive a new summons approximately three weeks before your new report date.
