Jury Duty: Quick Facts
Do you understand how Missouri criminal trials work and the roles that each of the participants play? The professional Missouri attorneys advocate for and defend their clients' positions. The judge oversees the proceedings and acts as the ultimate authority on the law. The jury members objectively evaluate the facts presented by the attorneys and decide the final verdict (guilty or not guilty) based upon the evidence provided.
The attorneys and judges are individuals with years of schooling and experience. The jury members, however, can be any citizens who live in the county in which the crime was committed. Jury members are selected completely at random, usually from a list of licensed drivers, personal property tax list or voting registrants.
Given the random selection process, most (but not all) American citizens will be asked to serve on a jury at some point in their lives. Serving on a jury in an American courtroom is not only a civic duty - it's also an honor and a great responsibility. If you serve on a jury, you and your fellow jurors will be responsible for determining the innocence or guilt of the accused.
If you or someone you know has been called to jury duty, here are a few important pieces of information about the process.
Jury Duty Requires Some Sacrifice.
While serving, jurors have to spend time away from work and family. Serving on a jury is a civic responsibility, however, and employers are legally prohibited from firing or disciplining employees for missing work due to jury duty. Employers are also not allowed to require employees to use vacation or sick days to cover the time spent in the courtroom.
If you are the sole caregiver for a dependent family member, you may be able to get excused from jury duty. Keep in mind, however, that this excuse is only acceptable when serving on a jury would create an "extreme hardship" for the juror.
Only Qualified Individuals Can Serve As Jurors.
You may receive a notice summoning you to jury duty, does that does not necessarily mean you are qualified to serve. In order to qualify for jury duty, individuals must:
The attorneys and judges are individuals with years of schooling and experience. The jury members, however, can be any citizens who live in the county in which the crime was committed. Jury members are selected completely at random, usually from a list of licensed drivers, personal property tax list or voting registrants. Given the random selection process, most (but not all) American citizens will be asked to serve on a jury at some point in their lives. Serving on a jury in an American courtroom is not only a civic duty - it's also an honor and a great responsibility. If you serve on a jury, you and your fellow jurors will be responsible for determining the innocence or guilt of the accused.
If you or someone you know has been called to jury duty, here are a few important pieces of information about the process.
Jury Duty Requires Some Sacrifice.
While serving, jurors have to spend time away from work and family. Serving on a jury is a civic responsibility, however, and employers are legally prohibited from firing or disciplining employees for missing work due to jury duty. Employers are also not allowed to require employees to use vacation or sick days to cover the time spent in the courtroom.
If you are the sole caregiver for a dependent family member, you may be able to get excused from jury duty. Keep in mind, however, that this excuse is only acceptable when serving on a jury would create an "extreme hardship" for the juror.
Only Qualified Individuals Can Serve As Jurors.
You may receive a notice summoning you to jury duty, does that does not necessarily mean you are qualified to serve. In order to qualify for jury duty, individuals must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Be a confirmed resident of the county in which the crime occurred (unless specifically being summoned to another county by order of the court)
- Be able to speak, read, and understand English
- Be a United State citizen
- Not have been convicted of a felony (unless their civil rights have been restored)
- Not be an active member of any branch of the U.S. military
Some individuals may meet the above requirements, but the jury commissioners or the court may find them incapable of serving due to mental or physical illness. If this is the case, these individuals will be disqualified from serving as a juror. If you have been disqualified from jury duty, you will have to write the reason on the back of your summons/questionnaire and return it to the jury office.
Jurors Are Paid For Their Service.
The main rewards for serving jury duty are intangible: jurors gain an increased understanding of country's, secure their own rights to a trial with an objective jury, and play an important role in the lives of their fellow citizens. While these intangible rewards are great, most people are happy to learn that jurors will also receive some financial compensation for their service as well. In Camden County Missouri, jurors receive $20.00 for every day that they serve as well as $0.07 for every mile they must travel from his/her home to the county courthouse.
Some People Can Be Excused From Jury Duty.
Jury duty is a civic responsibility all American citizens have, but some individuals may be eligible to be excused from jury duty if certain conditions are met. Examples of some of these individuals include:
- People who have already served on a jury within the last two years
- Employees of religious institutions whose religious obligations prohibit them from serving on a jury.
- People who would suffer extreme financial or physical hardship from serving on a jury.
- Licensed healthcare providers whose absence from work while serving jury duty could be detrimental to the health of their patients.
There are a few other people who may be eligible to be excused from jury service as well. If you would like to be excused from jury duty, you will need to write your excuse on the back of your summons/questionnaire and return it to the jury office. Be aware that you may be required to appear in court and state your reason for your excuse before the judge.
Serving Jury Duty Is An Honor.
Jury duty is the closest, most hands-on interaction with our government and judicial proceedings that most U.S. citizens will get to experience. All American citizens have the right to a fair trial with a jury of their peers, and it is an honor to get to help provide that right to a fellow citizen.
If you are called to jury duty, all of us at the Law Firm of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. strongly encourage you to serve. If you have any questions about the jury's responsibilities or the jury selection process, feel free to reach out to one of our experienced Camden County attorneys.
We Are Effective Camden County Lawyers for all of your legal needs.
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Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising. When you need a knowledgeable attorney, we invite you to contact us to set up a consultation. Evening and weekend appointments are available. We have access to interpreters.
We Are Effective Camden County Lawyers for all of your legal needs.
We Are There When You Need Us.
Disclaimer: No attorney-client relationship is created by publication of this Blog.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising. When you need a knowledgeable attorney, we invite you to contact us to set up a consultation. Evening and weekend appointments are available. We have access to interpreters.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
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Camdenton, MO 65020 GET A MAP
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