EXEMPTIONS FOR JURY SERVICE

(Texas Government Code, Section 62.106)

 A person may claim a legal exemption if that person: 

1. is over 70 years of age;
2. has legal custody of a child or children younger than 12 years of age and serving on the jury requires leaving the child or children without adequate supervision;
3. is a student of public or private secondary school;
4. is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education;
5. is an officer or an employee of the senate, the house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office or other agency in the legislative branch of state government;
6. has served as a petit juror in the county during 24 month period preceding the date the person is to appear;
7. is the primary caretaker of a person who is an invalid unable to care for himself or herself;
8. is a member of the United States military forces serving on active duty and deployed to a location away from the person’s home station and out of the person’s county of residence.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR JURY SERVICE

(Texas Government Code, Section 62.102)

 To be qualified to serve as a juror you must: 

1. be at least 18 years of age;
2. be a citizen of this state and a resident of this city in which you are to serve as a juror;
3. be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in the county in which you are to serve as a juror (Note: You do not have to be registered to vote to be qualified to vote);
4. be of sound mind and good moral character;
5. be able to read and write;
6. not have served as a juror for six days during the preceding three months in the county court or during the preceding six months in the district court; and
7. not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for, misdemeanor theft or a felony. 

NOTE:  If you are claiming a disqualification based on the lack of citizenship or lack of residence in the county, you may no longer be eligible to vote in the county.  

DISOBEDIENCE OF A JURY SUMMONS OR FILING A FALSE CLAIM OF EXEMPTION FROM JURY SERVICE IS PUNISHABLE BY A FINE UP TO $500.00

BUSINESS reasons are not lawful excuses for failing to appear for jury service.