Courts look to new electronic system to help potential jurors

Butler County’s Circuit Court will soon implement a new system, which officials say will offer more convenient communication with prospective jurors and an online option for filling out questionnaires.

Starting March 1, Butler County will be among 15 counties mailing the new Show-Me Jury questionnaires. They will be effective for jury service beginning April 1. Other area counties include Stoddard and Reynolds.

When potential jurors receive the questionnaire, they now can go online at www.courts.mo.gov/ejuror to complete their juror qualification forms.

The new system, according to Butler County Circuit Clerk Cindi Bowman, will make it “easier for prospective jurors to fill out their qualification form online.”

A big benefit to the public, she said, will be the “ease of contacting and communicating with the courts, and in particular, our local Circuit Clerk’s office.”

Bowman said prospective jurors can choose to communicate with the court by text or email. That choice is made at the time the online questionnaire is completed.

Although Show-Me Jury is not completely paperless, Bowman said, it allows “our potential jurors to do more online and choose how they want the court to let them know if they have been excused or disqualified for serving or if their service has been postponed or canceled.

“It really has made jury service so much more convenient for our citizens.”

As an eJuror, contact information can be updated, requests can be made for postponement/excusal or disqualification and detailed doctor’s statement to request excusal can be uploaded. An eJuror also can check to see if his or her request has been granted or denied.

For prospective jurors who remain in the pool of qualified jurors after completing their questionnaires, the local court still will call the juror when he or she has been selected for a certain day and time to serve.

Upon receiving the juror qualification and summons in the mail, Bowman said, any prospective jurors who do not have internet access can call her office to have a questionnaire mailed, as in the past.

For prospective jurors calling Bowman’s office, “we will offer to fill it out online for them,” she said. “It’s a matter of plugging in information.”

Missouri courts reportedly do not require anyone to provide confidential information over the telephone or by email.

“We truly appreciate the willingness of our citizens to serve as jurors,” Bowman said. “Through the Show-Me Jury system, we hope to make that service much easier and more convenient.”

Bowman is hoping for a smooth transition.

In speaking with clerks of circuits that already have implemented this system, Bowman said, she was told there have not been as many calls as expected.

“The elderly have their grandkids to do” the questionnaire online for them, Bowman said.

With her staff, Bowman said, she thinks “we will be able to help others to make it smooth. The ones who call, we can help them through whatever they need.”

The implementation of the Show-Me Jury system is being done in stages, Bowman said.

“Several (counties) have already done this; they’re hoping to complete the whole state by the first of next year,” said Bowman.

Ripley reportedly will be among the final counties statewide to make the change on March 2, 2021.