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Dear Prospective Juror,
Welcome to Tarrant County Jury Services. Americans have long enjoyed the privileges of citizenship and the protection of liberties. Jury service plays a vital role in sustaining the American system of justice. Your are an important part of the Tarrant County Judicial System
This web site is designed to answer questions that jurors typically ask regarding Tarrant County jury services. Once you are assigned to a court, the Judge will instruct you in regard to the law applicable to the case being heard. This web site is not a substitute for the Judge's instruction, however, is provided to help you understand the procedure in Tarrant County and to enable you to administer justice.
Tarrant County is proud of our automated jury system which won a National Award for Excellence. Our pledge to you is to make your jury service as convenient as possible and take no more of you valuable time than absolutely necessary to serve our courts. We must always have jurors available to meet our courts' needs.
You may ask, "Why was my name drawn for Jury Service?" The Legislature is responsible for all laws pertaining to the "Jury List". Each year the Secretary of State receives the Tarrant County voters list and the drivers license list from the Department of Public Safety. Because the law requires our list to be reconstituted every year, the Secretary of State then combines these lists and sends Tarrant County their "Jury List" for the upcoming year.
Currently there are over one million names on our list and we mail 200,000 to 300,000 summons annually. After the list is randomized, if your name is among the top 200,000 to 300,000 names on the list of over one million names, you will receive a jury summons. The reason some people never receive a summons is "their placement on the list". It is that simple and I have no control over this process.
Sincerely,
Peggy Matthews
Jury Administrator
It is now more convenient than ever to serve as a juror in Tarrant County. Tarrant County currently operates a "one day or one trial" jury system. However, this does not mean you will only be in service for one day. Once you are assigned to a court, you are under the jurisdiction of that court and will be expected to adhere to their time schedule. If you do not receive a court assignment by 5:00 p.m. on the first day of your service, you will be dismissed. Please be advised that Tarrant County Jury Services provides jurors for over 50 different courts.
The law provides that the court may not excuse any juror for economic reasons unless all parties of record are present and approve such excuse. Our courts must adhere to a very strict appearance policy however, it may be possible to obtain a postponement to a more convenient date due to a business commitment or economic situation.
You may request a postponement of jury service if your appearance at the date and time on your summons would impose an undue hardship. You may request the postponement by phone,letter, or in person. You will be given the actual date to appear so please mark your calendar accordingly, as we only grant one postponement per year. The new summons will be mailed to you two weeks prior to the date you are to appear.
NOTE: In addition to any criminal penalty prescribed by law, a person who does not comply with the summons as required by law is subject to a contempt action punishable by a fine of not less than $100, nor more than $1,000. Texas Government Code, Section 62.0141.
NOTE TO EMPLOYERS: Texas law prohibits discharging, harming, or threatening to harm an employee as a result of jury service. Any such act by an employer can be punished as a misdemeanor (up to $2,000 fine and/or 2 years in jail) or as a felony (up to $5,000 fine and/or 2 to 10 years in the penitentiary). Civil Practice and Remedies Code Ch. 122; Penal Code Sec. 36.03 and 36.06. An employee whose employment rights under Ch. 122 Civil Practice and Remedies Code are violated is entitles to reinstatement to his/her former position, and to recover damages from the employer up to an amount equal to 5 years compensation at the rate at which the person was compensated when summoned for jury service. The employee is also entitled to have the employer pay the fees of the employee's attorney, in an amount approved by a court.
To serve as a juror, you must meet certain qualifications. You must:
1.Be at least 18 years of age.
2.Live in Tarrant County and you must be a United States citizen.
3.Be qualified under the constitution and laws to vote in the county in which one is to serve as a juror - It is not necessary to be registered to vote, only qualified to vote. A person is qualified to vote if that person is a United States citizen, lives in Tarrant County and has never been convicted of a felony.
4.Be of sound mind and good moral character. It is necessary to furnish a letter from your doctor indicating the nature of your illness and why this would prevent you from serving.
5.Be able to read and write unless otherwise provided.
6.Have not served as a petit juror for six days during the preceding six months in a district court or during the preceding three months in a county court.
7.Have never been convicted of a felony, Most first and second DWI convictions are misdemeanors. Felony charges are heard in a district court, misdemeanor charges are heard in a county court. Once deferred adjudicated probation is completed on felony charges you should be able to serve. These will be evaluated on an individual basis. Please check your criminal record with the County Clerk or District Clerk's office in the county in which the offense occurred.
8.Not be under indictment or other legal accusation of misdemeanor or felony theft or any other felony charge. The only misdemeanor charge that will not allow you to serve as a juror is any theft charge.
It is not necessary to mail back the summons unless you are claiming an exemption or disqualification. Please bring the entire summons with you.
You can be excused from Jury Service if:
1.You are 70 years of age or older - this exemption is also available on a permanent basis. If you request a permanent exemption from Jury Service, please be advised that a new state law now requires that our list of names include all registered voters and all drivers license and ID cards through the Department of Public Safety. Therefore, if your name was drawn from the "voters list" you can be assured that your permanent exemption will remove your name from that list for future jury summons. However, if your name was drawn from the DPS list, we have no authority to remove your name from their list. If you receive a jury summons in the future as a result of the DPS list, it will be necessary each time to complete the affidavit on the back and mail to us. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience this may cause you. If your name and address are identical on each document, the secretary of State may place your name on our list only once. Please take time to check your documents and correct if necessary.
2.You have legal custody of a child or children who is under ten (10) years of age and serving jury service would necessitate leaving this child or children without adequate supervision. This exemption does not apply if you work outside the home during normal business hours. If you work part-time or unusual hours, this may be addressed on an individual basis. Please explain in writing or appear as summoned.
3.You attend high school. Please provide documentation or appear as summoned to discuss this exemption in person.
4.You are enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education - this exemption applies only to students who are in actual attendance during normal business hours, this may be addressed on an individual basis. Please provide documentation or appear as summoned to discuss this exemption is person.
5.You are an officer or employee of the senate, the house or any department, commission, board, office, or any agency in the legislative branch of state government - this exemption does not apply to a person who is just a member of a board: (a) to be an officer means president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, etc. (b) to be an employee means to be on the payroll of senate, house, committee, board, or any agency in the legislative branch.
6.You have served as a juror in Tarrant County during the 24 month period prior to the date you are to appear for this summons - municipal service is not accepted as prior service for the County and District Courts in Tarrant County.
7.You are the primary caretaker of a person who is an invalid unable to care for him/herself.
8.Medical Conditions - if you have a medical condition which would make it impossible to serve as a juror, you may send us a letter from your doctor indicating the nature of your illness and why this would prevent you from serving. If you are on Social Security disability, you may send a copy of your award letter. If you have a permanent or chronic condition, you may be eligible to claim a permanent medical exemption.
RadioShack is gracious enough to let jurors park free in their Tandy Parking Lot. There are two entrances into the parking lot - one off Taylor Street and one off Henderson Street. You may park free in the Tandy Parking Lot, however, please do not park in the spaces that are marked off for their employees. You can walk up the hill across Belknap Street to the Tarrant County Justice Center and enter the building through the north entrance, which is the Belknap Street entrance, or you can ride the subway to the Fort Worth Outlet Square Mall and walk across the street to the Justice Center and enter through the South Entrance which is the Weatherford Street entrance.
Pay parking is available in the parking garages and lots directly East of the Justice Center on Belknap Street and in the lots South of the Justice Center on Weatherford Street.
Handicap Parking- if you have a handicap license plate, sticker,or place card, you may park free at the meters. The City of Fort Worth tells us they will not ticket you if you park at the meters as long as you adhere to the time limitations posted on the signs. The meters on Belknap Street will not allow parking between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. The meters on Weatherford Street will not allow parking between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The handicap entrance to the Tarrant County Justice Center is located on Lamar Street. The jury room is located on the Plaza Level of the Justice Center.
Upon arrival at the Central Jury Room of the Tarrant County Justice Center, you will be assigned a court. It is very important that you clearly understand your court assignment this day. If you do not understand which court you have been assigned, please ask us for further assistance. The courts adhere to a strict appearance policy. Appropriate dress for you court assignment would be whatever you would wear to a job interview or church. No shorts! No tank tops!
There are two basic types of cases, criminal and civil (including family 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". 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. The Texas Supreme Court has rules to assist you in your conduct as a juror, which will be given to you by the Judge.
Cases will usually be heard by juries of 6 or 12 jurors (12 in district Courts - 6 in County Courts). A larger group, called a panel, will be sent to the trial court (courtroom). When you arrive at your court, the bailiff will call your panel inside individually and assign each a number. The panel will be seated in this order. Jurors will be questioned by each of the lawyers under the supervision of the Judge. This interview process is called voir dire. The voir dire is a way for the parties to select a fair and impartial jury. You may be questioned individually or as a group to determine selection of the jury. 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. A juror may be excused from the panel if it is shown that the juror cannot act impartially concerning the case to be heard. 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. After the voir dire, the selection of jurors will be announced and the remainder of the panel will be returned to the jury room. If you have a special need or an emergency after you have been selected as a juror on a trial panel, tell the bailiff.
Should the parties to a suit unexpectedly reach a settlement or accept a plea, the bailiff will announce this to the panel and instruct you to return to the jury room for further instructions. Settlements are encouraged whenever possible because settlements save time and money for all involved. A settlement or plea does not mean a juror's time has been unproductive.
NOTE: You may be asked to complete a questionnaire either in the jury room or after you arrive in the court. The information on these forms is used by the attorneys for both sides during the voir dire process to expedite the jury selection. The oath has been administered to you, therefore, you are still under oath when you answer these questions.
1. Change of Venue - Occasionally Tarrant County will serve as the recipient of a "Change of Venue Trial." The Judge of this trial granted an atorney's reuest to move the trial from the county in which it was filed. In the event you receive a summons for a "Change of Venue, the judge may require restrictions not listed in our regular jury selection process and not make available to us until all parties to the trial agree. We must adhere to the judge's orders.
2. Special Venires - Occasionally the nature of a case may require that a special panel of jurors be called for that trial only. In the event you receive a summons for a "Special Venire," it is not uncommon for the Judge to require that all telephone communication be conducted through the court in which the case was filed. In this case, the jury staff can not communicate with you relating to the nature of this trial or provide any information whatsoever. All calls will be referred to that court.
3. Sequestration - In certain trials the Judge may prevent the separation of the Jury. In this event, the jurors will stay together in a hotel and travel to and from the Justice Center as a group. All meals will be together, also. The bailiffs of the court will accompany the jurors. Please be advised that you will know immediately if the trial in which you are assigned requires sequestering the jury.
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 decision regarding disputed facts: therefore, your attention at all times is critically important. Juror notetaking 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.
Instructions 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: 1) physical comfort; 2) special needs; 3) 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 in this handbook is not intended to take the place of the instruction given by the Judge in any case. In the event of conflict, the Judge's instructions will prevail.
NOTE: Not all of these rules apply in Justice or Municipal Courts.
You will be reimbursed $6 per day for the first 3 days and $10 per day thereafter for expenses. We issue your check upon dismissal. The top portion of your check is verification of service.
You have the right to donate all or part of your jury service reimbursement check. There are two charitable causes from which to choose. The first fund is the Tarrant County Children's Fund which provides special assistance to needy children here in Tarrant County. The second fund is the Crime Victims Compensation Fund created by Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedures and promulgated by Chapter 61, Texas Government Code. If you wish to donate to either of these funds, please notify a jury services representative at the end of your jury service after you receive your jury check.
Peggy Matthews Jury Administrator
Cydney Grubb - Jury Specialist
Debbie Brown - Jury Coordinator II
Monica Andress - Administrative Assistant
Felicia Slaughter - Jury Coordinator I
Jay Tobias - Jury Clerk
Mika Harp - Jury Clerk
Page Smith - Jury Clerk
24 Hour Jury Information 817-884-2968
Jury Offices 817-884-3233
Tarrant County Justice Center 401 W. Belknap
Tarrant County Courthouse 100 W. Weatherford
Civil Courts Building 100 N. Houston
Criminal Courts Building 300 W. Belknap
Tarrant County Administration Bldg. 100 E. Weatheford