HERMANN – Gasconade County joins the other counties and state government this week in recognizing the service of citizens who serve on juries, one of the least-favorite things to do for many people.

This week is Missouri’s Juror Appreciation Week. During the celebration, judges, lawyers and court clerks will formally thank the 71,855 Missourians who served as jurors in 2025.

Beginning Sunday and running through Saturday, court staff and legal professionals will emphasize to jurors how important their contributions are to our courts, communities and legal system, says officials of The Missouri Bar. Many courthouses throughout the state will display a poster provided by The Missouri Bar thanking jurors for answering the call. Judges also may take additional time to thank jurors and to acknowledge the significance of their service.

There is no jury activity scheduled this week in Gasconade County, according to Circuit Clerk Jennifer Schneider, so no specific event for jurors is planned. The posters expressing appreciation to the jurors might remain up after this week.

Missouri is one of only a few states that holds a statewide Juror Appreciation Week. The observance began in 2000 by an order of the Missouri Supreme Court, 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…”

You can visit the event website https://missourilawyershelp.org/events/juror-appreciation-week/ to learn more about Juror Appreciation Week, take a quiz to test your knowledge of jury service, or attempt custom jury-themed word puzzles.