1. Whenever it shall appear, in the manner provided in section 545.490, that the inhabitants of the entire county in which the cause is pending are so prejudiced against the defendant that a fair trial cannot be had, the circuit court judge may order as many jurors as he deems necessary to be summoned from any county or counties in the same judicial circuit as the county of trial or in any adjoining judicial circuit. If the circuit court judge is of the opinion that it is necessary in order to provide a fair trial of any cause, he may summon jurors from a county which is neither in the circuit nor adjoining the judicial circuit in which the trial is to be held by requesting the chief justice of the supreme court of the state of Missouri to name a county in the state from which jurors may be summoned for such trial.

2. If jurors are summoned from a county other than the county of trial, the selection of the jury panel may, at the discretion of the circuit court judge, be held in the county in which the jurors reside.

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 494.505

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

3. Jurors summoned pursuant to the provisions of subsection 1 of this section shall be subject to the same challenges as other jurors, except challenges for nonresidence in the county of trial. Transportation may be furnished to the jurors in lieu of mileage.

4. The supreme court of the state of Missouri shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.