|
Juror Daily Schedule
Scam Information
|
Juror Information/Frequently
Asked Questions
|
|
|
|
|
|
When
you receive your jury summons you should open it, read the
card and review this website prior to calling the number on
the card.
When
you enter the Courthouse you will pass through a metal
detector and anything you carry will pass through an x-ray
machine. Guns,
knives and other weapons are strictly prohibited.
|
|
|
|
|
Shortcut
to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
You must have Adobe
Acrobat to view or print this file.
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
Why Is Jury Service Important?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
The
United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution
guarantee all people, regardless of race, religion, sex,
national origin, or economic status, the right to trial
by an impartial jury. Justice ultimately depends to the
large measure upon the quality of the jurors who serve
in our courts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
What Is My Duty As A Juror?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
As
a juror, you must be fair and impartial. Your actions
and decisions must be free of any bias or prejudice.
Your actions and decisions are the foundation of our
judicial system.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
How Was I Selected?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
You
were selected at random by computer from a list of voter
registrations, driver registrations and identification
cards from the county in which you live.
The list is compiled every three years by the
Secretary of State.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
Am I Eligible?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
Jurors
must:
*Be
a citizen of the United States and of this State.
*Be at least 18 years of age.
*Reside in the county of jury service.
*Be able to read and write.
*Be of sound mind and good moral character.
You
cannot serve on a jury if:
*You
have served as a juror for six days during the preceding
3 months in the county court or 6 months in the district
court
*You
have been convicted of a felony or of any type of theft
(unless rights have been restored)
*You are now on probation or deferred adjudication for a
felony or for any type of theft; or
*You are now under indictment for a felony or are now
under criminal charges for any type of theft.
If
you are in doubt, or think you may not be qualified to
serve on a jury for one of the above or any other
reasons, please notify the judge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
Who Can Be Excused From Jury Service?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
You
are entitled to be excused as a juror if you:
*Are over 70 years of age.
*Have legal custody of a child under 10 years of age and
jury service would leave the child unsupervised.
*Are a student registered in class.
*Are
an officer or employee of the Texas Senate, House of
Representatives or department, commission, board office
or other agency in the legislative branch of government.
*Are the primary caretaker of a person who is unable to
care for themselves (an invalid).
*Are a member of the US military forces on active
duty and deployed away from your home station and out of
your county of residence.
*Can show a physical or mental impairment or an
inability to comprehend or to communicate in English.
*Have
served as a juror during the 24-months preceding the
date you are required to appear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
What Are The Different Types Of Cases?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
There
are two basic types of cases, criminal and civil
(including family cases).
Criminal
Cases
A criminal case results when a person is accused of
committing a crime. You, as a juror, must decide whether
the person charged is guilty or not guilty. The accused
person is presumed innocent, and the State, represented
by the District or County Attorney, must prove guilt
“beyond a reasonable doubt”.
Civil
Cases
A civil case results from a disagreement or dispute
between two or more parties. In a civil case, you, as a
juror, must answer questions of disputed facts based
upon the testimony and evidence admitted by the judge.
The answers to these questions are called the verdict.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
Will I Be Paid For Being A Juror?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
Yes.
For the first day of service you will be paid a minimum
of $7.50 for the day that you present yourself willing
to serve and you will receive $15.00 if you serve on a
jury the first day.
For the second day and subsequent days of service
you will be paid $40.00 per day regardless of whether
you are actually serving on a jury.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
Must My Employer Pay Me While I Am On Jury
Duty?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
Your
employer is not required to pay you while on jury duty;
however, employers are prohibited by law from firing an
employee for serving as a juror.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
Who Can Have A Jury Trial?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
Any
person charged with a criminal offense or any party to a
civil case has a right to a jury trial. All parties are
equal before the law and each is entitled to the same
fair treatment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
Are There Rules About Jury Conduct?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
Yes.
The Texas Supreme Court has rules to assist you in your
conduct as a juror, which will be given to you by the
judge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
How Is A Juror Selected For a Particular Case?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
Cases
will usually be heard by juries of 6 or 12 jurors. The
larger group, called a panel, will be sent to the trial
court (courtroom) where the jurors will be questioned
under the supervision of the judge. A juror may be excused from the panel if it is shown that
the juror cannot act impartially concerning the case to
be heard or is otherwise disqualified. In addition, each
side is allowed to remove a given number of jurors from
the panel without having to show any reason. The trial
jury will be the first 6 or 12 of the remaining jurors
on the panel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
What Is Voir Dire Or Questioning Of The Jury
Panel?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
It
is a way for the parties to select a fair and impartial
jury. Under the justice system, you may be questioned by
each of the lawyers before they decide to remove a
certain number of jurors from the jury panel.
For
example, the lawyer may ask you questions to see if you
are connected to the trial or if you have any prejudice
or bias toward anyone in the trial. These questions are
not intended to embarrass you, but rather to help the
lawyers in the jury selection process. You may ask the
judge to allow you to answer some questions away from
the other jurors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
What If I Have A Special Need Or Emergency?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
After
you have been selected as a juror on a trial panel, if
you have a special need or an emergency, tell the
bailiff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question:
|
|
How
Do I Obtain An Excuse For My Employer?
|
|
Answer:
|
|
On
the day that you appear for jury duty you may obtain an
excuse that will show the time actually spent on jury
duty. If
you are not selected for a jury and your service was at
the McLennan County Courthouse, then you obtain your
excuse from the District Clerk’s Office.
If you serve on a jury, your excuse will be
provided by the court administrator.
If you report for a jury panel out of the main
court house, your excuse will be provided by the court
you report to.
|
|
|
 
|
 
|
|
|
Back
to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
General Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rescheduling
If
you cannot serve the week that you have been scheduled for
jury duty you are eligible to be rescheduled one time within
six months of the date of your original summons.
You may obtain a second postponement only in the event
of the death of a family member or similar catastrophic event.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Claiming Exemptions
If
you wish to claim an exemption you must circle the exemption
that you are claiming, sign the card and place it in the mail. If your exemption is a result of ill health or a physical
condition then you must furnish a doctor’s letter stating
that you are unable to serve as a juror.
The doctor may fax the letter to the district clerk’s
office at 757-5060. Your
name must be stated clearly on the letter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you are disqualified
If
you believe that you are disqualified from jury duty circle
the disqualification, sign the card and place the card in the
mail.
|
|
|
|
|
|
If
you have been either summoned or selected for jury duty, you
may park in the parking lot directly across from the
courthouse at 501 Washington Avenue.
|
|
|
There
is one courtroom that has assistive listening devices
available. Inform
the clerk’s staff when summoned for jury duty that you will
need assistance in hearing in the courtroom.
Arrangements can be made for other assistance for
jurors if you require an interpreter for the hearing impaired.
Please contact the McLennan County District Clerk’s
Office (254)757-5054.
|
|
|
Order Of Events Of The Trial
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opening
Statements: The lawyers for each side may explain the
case, the evidence they will present, and the issues for you
to decide.
Presentation of Evidence: The evidence consists of the
testimony of witnesses and the exhibits allowed by the judge.
Exhibits admitted into evidence will be available to the jury
for examination during deliberations. You have a right to ask
for them. You will be asked to make decisions regarding
disputed facts; therefore, your attention at all time is
critically important. Juror note taking or the use of any
notes will be determined by the judge.
Rulings by the Judge: The judge may be asked to decide
questions of law during the trial. Occasionally, the judge may
ask jurors to leave the courtroom while the lawyers make their
legal arguments. The jurors should understand that such
interruptions are needed to make sure that their verdict is
based upon proper evidence, as determined by the judge under
the Rules of Evidence. You may give the evidence whatever
weight you consider appropriate.
Instruction to the Jury: At the close of all the
evidence, the judge may submit to the jury, the Charge of the
Court. This will include legal instructions on this particular
case and the questions that the jury is to answer from the
evidence admitted.
Closing Arguments: After the Charge of the Court, the
lawyers have the opportunity to summarize the evidence in
their closing arguments and to try to persuade the jury to
accept their client’s view of the case.
Deliberations and Verdict of the Jury: Following
closing arguments, the jury is sent to deliberate. When the
jury has answered the questions asked of them they shall
return their verdict. The verdict must be based solely on the
evidence presented by the parties, the Charge of the Court,
and the rules of law provided by the judge.
When In Doubt, Ask The Judge: You have the right to
communicate with the judge regarding any matters affecting
your deliberations, including but not limited to:
*physical comfort
*special needs
*any questions regarding evidence; or
*the Charge of the Court
During deliberation, if it becomes necessary to communicate
with the judge, the bailiff or the officer of the court will
deliver jurors’ notes to the judge. The information is this
Handbook is not intended to take the place of the instructions
given by the judge in any case. In the event of conflict, the
judge’s instructions will prevail.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
McLennan
County
provides the information contained in this web site as a public service.
These records are not the official records of the McLennan County District
Clerk’s Office and no warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or
completeness of the information is made. The District Clerk’s
Office is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for results
obtained from the use of any of the information on this website.
Every effort is made to insure that information provided is correct.
However, in any case where legal reliance on information contained in
these pages is required, the official records of
McLennan
County
should be consulted. Distribution of the information does not constitute a
warranty. The forms available on this website are a courtesy. You
should determine whether the form available is appropriate for your
circumstance. Placement of forms on the website does not constitute
legal advice or representation. Use of the information is the sole
responsibility of the user. McLennan County is not responsible for the
content of, nor endorses any site which has a link from the
McLennan
County
web site.
|
|
Archives
District Attorney
