(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Missouri’s Juror Appreciation Week will be observed this year Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 2. During the week, judges, lawyers and court clerks will emphasize to jurors how important their contributions are to the courts, their communities and our judicial system. According to court records, more than 58,000 Missourians reported for jury duty in state courts in 2013.
Missouri Bar President Jack Brady said the right to trial by a jury is one of the fundamental guarantees included in the Bill of Rights.
“We appreciate the thousands of Missourians who serve their duty as a juror each year,” Brady said. “Jury duty can be inconvenient to our daily lives, but the right to a jury trial is fundamental to upholding our constitution and democracy. We dedicate this week to recognizing and thanking Missourians who do their part and report for jury duty.”
More than 50 courthouses throughout the state will observe the week in different ways. Many will display a Missouri Bar poster that thanks jurors for doing their part. Judges also may take additional time to thank jurors and to acknowledge the significance of their service.
Missouri is one of only a few states that hold a statewide Juror Appreciation Week. The observance began in 2000 by order of the Supreme Court of Missouri. The order states, “Each year thousands of Missourians perform one of the most significant civic duties granted to citizens — they serve as fair and impartial jurors in communities throughout the state. To honor those citizens who have performed their civic duty, all Missouri courts are directed to observe Juror Appreciation Week…”
To learn more about Juror Appreciation Week, visit The Missouri Bar’s website on the event at http://www.mobar.org/jurorappreciationweek/.
The Missouri Bar is a statewide organization that is dedicated to improving the legal profession, the law and the administration of justice for all Missourians. Created in 1944 by order of the Supreme Court of Missouri, it serves all 30,000 of Missouri’s practicing attorneys. To achieve its mission, The Missouri Bar provides a wide range of services and resources to its members, as well as the media, educators and the citizens of Missouri. To learn more about The Missouri Bar, visit www.mobar.org.