Missouri Supreme Court chief justice shares wish list with state lawmakers

MISSOURINET – Missouri law provides citizens who serve jury duty with six-dollars per day and seven-cents per mile. During Wednesday’s State of the Judiciary address, Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell pleaded with members of the Missouri Legislature to raise jury duty and mileage pay….

“During my travels to your local courthouses, staff express concern about the low compensation for jurors, who are missing a paycheck or time with their families to perform this important civic duty,” she said.

Russell said increasing this pay would demonstrate respect to jurors.

During her two-year term as chief justice, Russell said she has visited 36 of Missouri’s 46 judicial circuits.

Chief Justice Russell also said Missouri does not have enough beds or workers to serve the growing number of children at the state’s juvenile detention centers.

“The closest bed may be several hours away, which puts a burden on the family and is not a very effective use of taxpayer dollars,” said Russell.

During Wednesday’s State of the Judiciary address, Russell said she wants the bed capacity increased at two central Missouri detention centers. She also wants security and mental health services increased while maintaining juvenile detention staff statewide.

Russell wants the state to expand services to defendants prior to their court trial.

Russell said pretrial services connect nonviolent defendants with community resources to help them find housing, jobs, transportation, or substance misuse treatment.

“Connecting all of these resources with defendants saves counties money while ensuring public safety,” said Russell. “But it also makes it more likely that defendants will actually show up in court and helps close their revolving door into our criminal justice system.”

She said pretrial services are a promising tool to achieve positive results.