Juror Information

Importance of Jury Service

The United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution guarantees all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to trial by an impartial jury.

Juror Selection

Prospective jurors are selected at random from a list of voter registrations and/or a list of tax rolls from the city in which you live.

Juror Duty Service

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.

Qualifications

To serve as a juror you must meet qualifications:

1. be at least 18 years of age;
2. be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the City of Deer Park;
3. be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in Harris County (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 (6) days during the preceding three months in county court or during the preceding six (6) months in district court;
7. not have been convicted of theft (misdemeanor or felony) or any other felony; and
8. not be under indictment or other legal accusations of a misdemeanor theft, felony theft, or any other felon charge.

Exemptions 

You may claim an exemption from jury service if:

1. you are over (75) years of age;
2. you have legal custody of a child or children under the age of 12 years if jury service by that person would necessitate leaving the child or children without adequate supervision;
3. you are a student of public or private secondary school;
4. you are enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education;
5. you are an officer or and an employee of the Senate, House of Representatives or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state government;
6. you are the primary caretakers of a person who is an invalid unable to care for him/herself; 
7.  you are a member of the U.S 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;
8. you have served as a petit juror in Harris County during the 24 month period preceding the date you are to appear for jury service; or
9. you have relocated outside of the city limits of Deer Park, Texas.

Online Options

Prospective jurors may reschedule their jury duty or claim an exemption here.

Failure to Attend

Article 45A.156(a)-(c), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides a penalty of $100 for failure to attend jury duty service.

Juror Compensation

Jurors will be paid a minimum of $6 for each day you actually serve on a jury. Jurors may elect to donate their compensation to the Texas Crime Victim's Compensation Fund.