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Jury Duty in Missouri

Who can be excused from jury duty in Missouri, what happens if you skip it, juror pay, and whether your employer must let you serve.

Short answer: On timely request to the court, these people must be excused: anyone who served on a state or federal jury in the past two years; nursing mothers with a doctor's statement; RSMo §494.430

Who can be excused from jury dutyOn timely request to the court, these people must be excused: anyone who served on a state or federal jury in the past two years; nursing mothers with a doctor's statement; people whose absence from work would materially harm public safety, health or welfare; people for whom service would be an undue or extreme physical or financial hardship (such as no substitute caregiver, inability to pay daily living costs, or illness), with documentation; health care providers certifying service would harm their patients; certain religious employees; and anyone 75 or older. Missing work alone is not a hardship, and a hardship ruling must be obtained before the date you are due to appear.
Source: RSMo §494.430
Penalty for skipping jury dutyA person who willfully fails to appear for jury service without getting a postponement or excuse, or who fails to return the juror qualification form, is in civil contempt and can be ordered to show cause. After a hearing, the court may impose a fine of up to $500 and/or order community service at least as long as the jury service would have been. The court may excuse the sanction for good cause.
Source: RSMo §494.450
Jury duty pay and your jobAn employer may not fire, discipline, threaten or take adverse action against an employee for receiving or responding to a jury summons, and a fired employee may sue within 90 days for lost wages, other damages, reinstatement and attorney's fees. An employer may not require or ask the employee to use annual, vacation, personal or sick leave for jury service; the statute does not require the employer to pay wages. Small employers (five or fewer full-time employees) get an automatic postponement if another employee is already summoned for the same period. Jurors receive at least $6 per day plus state mileage, more if the county opts in (at least $18 per day, or $50 per day from the third day under an alternative county system).
Source: RSMo §§494.460, 494.455

More Missouri criminal law

FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Missouri?
On timely request to the court, these people must be excused: anyone who served on a state or federal jury in the past two years; nursing mothers with a doctor's statement; people whose absence from work would materially harm public safety, health or welfare; people for whom service would be an undue or extreme physical or financial hardship (such as no substitute caregiver, inability to pay daily living costs, or illness), with documentation; health care providers certifying service would harm their patients; certain religious employees; and anyone 75 or older. Missing work alone is not a hardship, and a hardship ruling must be obtained before the date you are due to appear.
What happens if you miss jury duty in Missouri?
A person who willfully fails to appear for jury service without getting a postponement or excuse, or who fails to return the juror qualification form, is in civil contempt and can be ordered to show cause. After a hearing, the court may impose a fine of up to $500 and/or order community service at least as long as the jury service would have been. The court may excuse the sanction for good cause.
Does your employer have to let you serve on a jury in Missouri?
An employer may not fire, discipline, threaten or take adverse action against an employee for receiving or responding to a jury summons, and a fired employee may sue within 90 days for lost wages, other damages, reinstatement and attorney's fees. An employer may not require or ask the employee to use annual, vacation, personal or sick leave for jury service; the statute does not require the employer to pay wages. Small employers (five or fewer full-time employees) get an automatic postponement if another employee is already summoned for the same period. Jurors receive at least $6 per day plus state mileage, more if the county opts in (at least $18 per day, or $50 per day from the third day under an alternative county system).

Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.