Juror Information

Click the icon below to visit the Juror Portal website:

PLEASE NOTE:  Jury management staff and law enforcement will NEVER CALL YOU AND ASK for Social Security numbers, money, credit card information, or other sensitive information.  Do not give out such information over the phone to anyone who calls you claiming to be with law enforcement or the judicial system.

Selection Process

Jurors are randomly selected from a list provided by the Missouri Department of Revenue Driver’s License Bureau and the County’s roll of all registered voters.  If a person is selected for service at any time during one year they will be ineligible for selection for service during the following year.  The law mandates the use of the “random selection” process.  Even though a person is eligible every other year, surveys indicate that 60%-70% of persons who serve have no prior jury service.

Completing Juror Portal and Navigating Tips

• Juror questionnaires are no longer mailed out, jurors receive a summons by mail and must go online to complete questionnaire;
• Juror questionnaire must be completed online within 10 days of receipt of summons using the Juror Portal online program;
• You can click on the Juror Portal link above or type the exact Website address in browser bar: www.courts.mo.gov/jurorportal/;
• After welcome page, enter nine digit Juror ID number located below the barcodes; 
• Enter date of birth, then select login button;
• A welcome screen displays and provides instructions; 
• If you do not have computer or smart phone access, a family member or friend may help you.  If those options do not work, call Court Administrator at 573-659-2302. 
  
  

With Juror Portal, You Can Also

• Update your contact information;
• Request to be disqualified;
• Upload doctor’s note to request excusal;
• Upload proof of non US citizen (examples: Visa, passport, I-94 card); and/or
• Upload proof of nonresident in Cole County (examples: driver’s license, utility bill or mail addressed to you).
  
  

Amount of Service and Notification

Most Jury service terms are 2 months.  Jury orientation will be held the morning of the first scheduled court appearance. Notification to jurors regarding orientation or upcoming jury trial dates is made by the use of a Jury Information Recorded Message Line.  For your convenience, the message line is available 24 hours a day by phoning 573-634-8897. 

Please call the information line after 5 PM the evening before your service begins and/or the next scheduled trial date.  For example, if the next jury trial for your panel is May 6, jurors should call the information line after 5 PM, May 5 to see if the trial is going as scheduled.  If your panel is required the next day, the recorded message will inform jurors that they need to be at the Courthouse, parking information and the time to check in.  If the trial has been postponed or settled, the recording will tell you when to call back.

Excused for Specific Day

If you are unable to serve on a specific day during your term of the service (for example a doctor appointment) please make that request by calling the Court Administrator at 573-659-2302.  Do not request exclusion of more than one calendar week during your term of service.  If more than one week is requested, you may be deferred to a different service period.

Request to be Excused

Since the Board of Jury Commissioners limits jury service, you will be excused only if service will be a substantial physical or financial hardship.  There is little question that jury service is an imposition.  Nonetheless, it is your legal duty and inconvenience alone is not considered a substantial hardship.  If you would like to request a hardship excusal from jury service, please make the request through the Juror Portal, www.courts.mo.gov/jurorportal/ or call the Court Administrator at 573-659-2302 for assistance.  Grounds for excuse that will be considered include: 

• 75 years of Age or Older
• Child Care, Caregiver, Guardian
• Employee of Religious Institution
• Health - (Doctor’s letter must be provided)
• Job Related/Financial Hardship
• Medical Profession - (License and letter of current employment must be provided)
• Nursing Mother – (Written statement from physician must be provided)
• Physical Hardship
• Served within the Last 24 Months

You can also state your reason in writing to the Jury Commission Board.  Your written request must be made in a timely manner and include your full name, address, phone number, and nine-digit Juror ID number.  Correspondence to the Jury Commission Board can be emailed to Cole.Jury@courts.mo.gov or mailed to:

Jury Commission Board
P. O. Box 503
Jefferson City, MO 65102

You will be contacted as to whether your request has been approved or denied.

Most jury trials are 1-2 days, so many hardships as to long jury trials will be handled by the jury trial Judge.  If your excuse is not approved and you wish to exercise your one time right to an automatic postponement for six (6) months, contact the Court Administrator at 573-659-2302.

Emergency/Illness

If an illness or emergency prevents your attendance on the date you have been required to report, call the Court Administrator’s office at 573-659-2302 prior to 8 AM on the date you are scheduled to appear.  While serving as a juror, you may receive emergency telephone calls at the Circuit Clerk’s Office, 573-634-9150.

Location

On the dates that a jury panel is required, jurors regularly report to the Jury Assembly Room on the 3^rd floor of the Courthouse (Room 302).  Please be prompt! 

Juror Badge

After all jurors have checked in, you will receive a yellow badge which says “Juror.”  Wear the badge until your jury service has ended for the day.  The badge also identifies you as a juror to other people and may keep them from unknowingly discussing a case in your presence.

Courthouse Security

Effective November 5, 2008 the Monroe Street entrance to the Cole County Courthouse is the only entrance open to the general public.  The recorded Juror Information Line will give specific instructions if jurors are to report to a different entrance.  All who enter are required to pass through a metal detector.  Find additional security information.

Comfort

It is difficult to keep the building comfortable for all persons.  Some persons have commented that the building is kept “too hot,” others that it is “too cold.”  You may want to bring a jacket or sweater.

Parking

Parking is provided in City Parking Lot 24.  Lot 24 is located directly across the street from City Hall and can be accessed from Jackson Street.  This lot is one block south of the courthouse.  The juror parking is located in the rear portion of Lot 24.  All other parking spaces are reserved for city employees or paid individuals.  Please do not park in the front row parking spaces near City Hall in Lot 24. These parking spaces are reserved for City Hall visitor parking.  You have been given a parking map/permit for this parking lot only.  Please bring the parking map/permit with you on days that you are required to report for jury service.  Place the permit on the dash of your vehicle.

There is no designated free parking for the public at the Courthouse.  There are handicapped spaces on the East side of the Courthouse.  These spaces are between the Courthouse and the County Annex Building.  There is also a handicapped metered space on the West side of the Courthouse on Monroe Street.  Accessible public parking is also available in the City Garage located on Madison Street.  The accessible handicapped entrance is located on the East side of the Courthouse between the Courthouse and County Annex Building.

Verification of Jury Service

Some employers require a statement from the Court that verifies your attendance for jury duty.  Statements are available from the Court Administrator.  

Jury Fees

Jury fees are set by state law.  You will be paid $12 per day for each day you are required to appear for jury duty.  Panel members selected to hear a given case will receive $18 for each day of the trial.  Mileage is only paid if you live outside the city limits.  You will receive $0.20 per mile for round trip from your residence to the Courthouse.  Compensation for mileage and fees are automatically computed at the end of your service.

Courthouse Demeanor

Cole County has adopted a policy of no eating, drinking, or smoking in public areas.  There is also a dress code for those involved in court proceedings.  Casual dress is approved as long as it is neat and in good taste.

Court Contacts

Your contact will be with Court Marshals, Court Administrator and Court Clerks, only.  It is requested that all questions be referred to them.  You must always wear your “Juror” button and refrain from talking to non-jurors, while in the courthouse.

ADA Coordinator

The 19th Judicial Circuit Court has a commitment to ensuring that court facilities are accessible to persons with special needs (American Disabilities Act).  If you have a special need regarding access to court facilities, please contact the ADA Coordinator at 573-659-2302.  The role of the ADA Coordinator is to facilitate accessibility to the Court’s facilities and services for those citizens with disabilities.