Postponements:

Upon timely request, individuals scheduled to appear for petit jury service have the right to postpone the date of their initial appearance for jury service one time.  The postponement date must be within 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, please complete the Juror Qualification Form attached to your summons and include a request to be postponed.  Be sure to include the dates you are unavailable for jury service with your request.  If requesting a postponement, please inform us as far in advance of the date you are scheduled to serve as possible.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

The 45th Judicial Circuit Court for Lincoln and Pike Counties, Missouri will take appropriate steps to ensure that communication with litigants, participants, jurors and members of the public with disabilities are effective. No qualified individual with a disability will be excluded, by reason of such disability from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs or activities of the Court or be subjected to discrimination by the Court.

Jury Reporting:

To find out if your jury service has been cancelled, please click refer to the Jury Pool Number printed on your Summons.  This information is listed in the lower right hand corner of your summons. If you have lost your summons and are unsure of when you are to report, please contact the Circuit Clerk's Office for Lincoln County at 636 528 0326 or for Pike County at 573 324 3112.  When reporting, you will be required to pass through security.  Individuals carrying prohibited items will be required to return them to their vehicle or dispose of them before entering the building.  Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:  any firearm or other weapon, any sharp objects such as metal utensils, knitting needles, scissors, tools or knives of any sort, flammable chemicals, and the like.  In keeping with the dignity and serious nature of court proceedings, proper attire is required in the courtrooms.  Temperatures in the courthouses can vary, so you are also encouraged to bring a sweater or jacket.  You should plan to be at the courthouse for the entire day. In fact, at times, jurors are at the courthouse past 5:00 p.m., but only when absolutely necessary.  You should also expect to have some downtime, so please bring a book, craft, or something else to occupy you during your downtime. However, keep in mind that sharp objects such as knitting needles and scissors are prohibited.  

Duty to Serve as a Juror:

The 45th Judicial Circuit encompasses all of Lincoln and Pike Counties, Missouri.  Jurors for each County are drawn from the population of each respective County based on that Juror's place of residence.  Throughout the year, the jury office issues summons directing prospective jurors to report on a specific date and time.  The master jury pool is created from multiple State sources, including the list of registered voters, licensed drivers, non-driver state identification cards, and other sources.  This random selection is designed to assure that a broad cross-section of our entire community is brought into the jury process.  The need for this broad cross-section also means that the Court does not excuse individuals from serving at the outset of the process except in very extreme circumstances.  All summoned jurors are required to complete and return the Juror Qualification Form attached to the summons within ten days.  Failure to do so may result in that prospective juror being held in contempt of court and fined up to $500.  There are statutory reasons for disqualification, excusal, or postponement from jury service, which the Court must follow.  Anyone summoned who believes he/she is disqualified from serving or is seeking to be excused or postpone service should indicate the basis for the same on the Juror Qualification Form and should include any supporting documentation with the request.  After receiving the qualification form and any supporting documentation, the Circuit Court Clerk's office will contact you indicating whether or not you have been disqualified, excused, or your service is postponed.  You must report for jury service on the date directed in the original summons until such time as the Court directs you otherwise.


Excuses From Jury Service:

The Court does not have unlimited discretion to excuse any person from Jury Service for any reason.  Pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute 494.430, upon timely request, the following citizens may be excused from jury service:


  • Any person who has served on a state or federal petit or grand jury within the previous 36 months;

  • Any nursing mother, upon her request, and with a completed written statement from her physician to the court certifying she is a nursing mother;

  • Any person whose absence from his/her regular place of employment would, in the judgment of the Court, tend materially and adversely to affect the public safety, health, welfare or interest;

  • Any person licensed as a health care provider as such term is defined in Missouri Revised Statute 538.205, 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;

  • Any employee of a religious institution whose religious obligations or constraints prohibit their serving on a jury. Written certification of the employment and of the religious obligations or constraints that prohibit service is required, and may be provided by the employee's religious supervisor;

  • Any person upon whom service as a juror would in the judgment of the Court impose an undue or extreme physical or financial hardship. A person asking to be excused based on a finding of undue or extreme physical or financial hardship must take all actions necessary to have obtained a ruling on that request by no later than the date on which the individual is scheduled to appear for jury service.