Judges, lawyers and court clerks thank the 69,098 Missourians who reported for jury duty in state courts in 2015 as part of Missouri’s Juror Appreciation Week held May 1 through May 7, 2016. During the week, court staff and legal professionals will emphasize to jurors how important their contributions are to the courts, their communities and our legal system.
2015-16 Missouri Bar President Erik Bergmanis said it is important to remember the right to trial by a jury is one of the fundamental guarantees included in the Bill of Rights.
“We thank the more than 69,000 Missourians who reported to jury duty last year,” Bergmanis said. “We understand jury duty can be inconvenient, but the right to a jury trial is fundamental to our liberty and democracy. That’s why we commend the thousands of Missouri citizens who reported to serve on a jury.”
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.
This year’s poster features the phrase “the jury is the heart of the American justice system,” echoing words from Founding Father and second president of the United States, John Adams, who in 1774 stated “representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty.”
Missouri is one of only a few states that hold a statewide Juror Appreciation Week. The observance began in 2000 by an order of the Supreme Court of Missouri, which 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…”
Visit the event webpage to learn more about Juror Appreciation Week, watch a video on the importance of jurors, or take a quiz to test your knowledge on jury service.
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 lawyers. 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 and www.MissouriLawyersHelp.org.
