Dear Editor,

Serving on a jury is one of the cornerstones of our democracy, a civic duty that ensures fairness and justice in our courts. However, for too long, that duty has come at a steep personal cost to working people across Missouri. We deserve better. Representative Rudi Veit’s proposed legislation, HB 131, offers a step toward rectifying this inequity, and I write today in strong support of this bill on behalf of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP.

Missouri’s current juror compensation system effectively excludes entire groups of people from participating in one of the most fundamental rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The financial burden placed on jurors—especially those who are hourly wage workers, single parents, and low-income individuals—means that only those who can afford to forgo their paychecks can afford to serve. This is not justice; it is exclusion. Walter Johnson’s The Broken Heart of America starkly illustrates the deep divides that have shaped our state, and HB 131 presents a chance to mend one of those fractures by ensuring that economic hardship is no longer a barrier to participation in the judicial system.

Under HB 131, jurors would be fairly compensated at $50 per day after the second day of service, ensuring that jury duty does not force everyday Missourians into financial distress. This is a common-sense measure that strengthens our judicial system by broadening participation, leading to juries that are more representative of our communities and the people they serve. Representative Veit deserves praise for his leadership in bringing this issue forward. The Missouri NAACP stands behind this bill and urges our members—and all Missourians—to contact their elected officials to express their support. True justice requires the voices of all citizens, not just those who can afford to take time off work. Ensuring fair compensation for jurors is a step toward a more just, equitable Missouri. We deserve that.

Sincerely,

Nimrod Chapel, Jr.

President, MO State Conference NAACP