EMBED <> More Videos Step 1: Dress inappropriate clothing: You should dress professionally and appropriately for jury duty. To be qualified to serve as a juror you must: Jurors are paid for their service. However, if you are qualified to serve and you do not ask to be excused or exempted, you will be able to participate in the jury selection process which may take only a day or a fraction of a day to complete. Pour en savoir plus sur notre utilisation de vos informations, veuillez consulter notre Politique relative la vie prive et notre Politique en matire de cookies. Her goal was inclusion of all races and all demographics.". Citizens over the age of 70 can be exempt from jury service under this age exception.. RELATED: Families want feds to look into Brazoria Co. jury process: 'The truth is always going to come out'. Listen carefully and follow the instructions given by court personnel and the judge. The law says that all individuals are competent jurors unless specifically disqualified. 111 E Locust, Rm 102A, Angleton, TX77515-4678 "Rhonda assumed the duties of the Brazoria County District Clerk on July 2, 2010. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Suite 2214. I am a resident of the City of Angleton for which the court is established. I desire to obtain a permanent exemption from jury service because I am over 70 years of age. Court System Type: County Constitutional Court Division: Contact Information: Phone Number: 979-864-1200 Website: http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp Are over 70 years of age (You may also request a permanent age 70 exemption. Brazoria County district attorney Tom Selleck first acknowledged what he termed irregularities in an August 25 public statement, writing that jury trial panels may have been assembled in a manner inconsistent with applicable statutes and law. Two days later, Selleck announced that he had asked the Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit to investigate. She left the job after law enforcement began investigating the possibility that she wrongly empaneled jury pools. Her attorney says the method was harmless, but the Texas Rangers are investigating. RELATED: Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous'. Hale County, TX Hermiston, OR Hill County, TX Lake Oswego, OR McKinney, TX . County of Brazos 300 E 26th Street Bryan, TX 77803 Email the County of Brazos More contact info . -See JURY SERVICE - Tex. Bring money. Physical and mailing address is 111 E. Locust St., Ste. Brazoria County district clerk Rhonda Barchak sorted jurors by race and geography. ANGLETON, Texas - The Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit is now investigating an alleged corrupt jury selection process in Brazoria County that's been happening for more than a decade. "What is important about this whole thing is that juries and jury selection is the bedrock of our justice system," said Shellist. As in most small Texas counties, where juror cards are still usedsome larger counties have switched to electronic systems, which generate randomized veniresall the cards are typically either shuffled in one big stack or mixed up on a table to create a stack. To serve as a juror you must meet the following qualifications: Be a citizen of Texas and a resident of Brazoria County in which you are to serve as a juror ; Be able to read and write ; Be at least 18 years . You need to contact the judge or the court to be excused on this basis. If you. August 27, 2021, 9:30 PM. $100 bond set for catalytic converter theft suspect's evading charge, Man on parole for murder charged in connection to Leslie Obi's killing, Oak pollen already a big problem, but strong storms could wash it away. Brazoria County Jury Duty is Canceled for Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Bryan, TX 77803. Do not let anyone else do any of these things for you. "The men and women who are called upon to serve on juries in both our federal and state courts have maintained a standard of fairness and excellence throughout the history of our country. ** There is no need to make an appearance if you are scheduled to appear as a prospective juror on September 15, 2022. You then might be asked to provide new dates when you can serve. Its not that hard.. At some point during the jury selection process, prospective jurors are given an oath by which they swear or affirm to tell the truth when answering questions about their qualifications as jurors. ATTENTION JURORS: Municipal Court Office will be closed Thursday, March 02, 2023, in observance of Texas Independence Day. If your county participates in I-Jury Online Impaneling and you have access to the internet, you may respond to your summons online and submit any scheduling conflicts without making a trip to the courthouse. The reason she divided the cards into four categories, he said, was to ensure a representative distribution of potential jurors. To postpone your Jury Service, call: 979-864-1836 (Central & West) 979-388-1836 (Brazosport) An employer who terminates, threatens to terminate, penalizes, or threatens to penalize an employee because the employee performs jury duty is subject to sanctions for contempt of court and payment of damages to the employee. If anyone attempts to discuss the case, report it to the judge at once. ~ 2 years, 0 mos ago Jan 18, '21 2:03pm. You will need to be fair, impartial, and be willing to make decisions that are not based on your personal feelings and biases. ); Have been summoned for service in a county with a population of at least 250,000 and you have served as a petit juror in the county during the three year period preceding the date you are to appear for jury service. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. The district clerks of nearby Wharton, Montgomery, and Matagorda counties said they had never heard of anyone using Barchaks method. Also, you might want to avoid parking in metered parking spaces because you do not know how long you will be in jury service. Through service on a jury, a citizen has a direct hand in the administration of justice. The process that she seems to have invented on her own was clearly not random. Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom, Wendy Davis Returns to the Texas Capitol and a Whole New Political Landscape, Red McCombs Turned Old San Antonio on Its Head, Attorney General Ken Paxton Agrees to Apologize and Pay $3.3 Million to Whistleblowers, Running Into Fire: The Legacy of Jeff Blackburn, Inside the Bro-tastic Party Mansions Upending a Historic Austin Community, How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire. According to the Brazoria County website, the clerk in question was elected in 2010. The acting district attorney for Brazoria County confirmed that his office did present findings to a grand jury today, and should conclude Thursday. SB0168E 12/15 41651 12/15 Jury registration is a simple process that can be completed: Online through the My Jury Duty Portal found here; On the telephone by calling (213) 972-0970 and selecting the "Registration" option from the menu. JURY SERVICE. any other program(s) approved by the commissioners court. Is any of the above incorrect? However the law states that an employer can not terminate your employment for attending jury service. These allegations about a corrupt process first surfaced in late August. Without having a very explicit statutory or court authorization for doing that, it strikes me as being legally problematic., Lewis said that Barchak began using the system around 2015, when the Texas Legislature outlawed the controversial key man method of grand jury selection, under which jury commissioners picked friends and colleagues to serve on grand juries, which determine whether there is enough evidence to file charges against someone. Simply follow the I-Jury information enclosed with the juror summons you received. Full-Time Student. Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous' By Courtney Carpenter. The Texas Rangers confirmed to ABC13 that their investigation is complete. Sometimes the cards were shuffled, and sometimes they were organized according to the order in which the jurors arrived for duty. Also, you may need money to pay for snacks, lunch, or pay phones. Jury Services (979) 361-4224 300 East 26th Street, Suite 2214 Bryan, TX 77803 . Jury duty is a civic responsibility that you do not get paid to attend. Depending on local laws and specific court policies, exemptions MAY include persons over age 70, and those having recently served on a jury (usually within 1-3 years depending on county policy). Website: http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp, Staff: Senior Administrator - Alice Logsdon. This juror site provides basic juror information on preparing for jury service and what to expect while serving, how to complete your jury summons, frequently asked questions, and provides helpful information about the courthouse to which you have been summoned. Brazoria County district attorney Tom Selleck first acknowledged what he termed "irregularities" in an August 25 public statement, writing that "jury trial panels may have been assembled in . Do not seek information contained in law books, dictionaries, public or private records or elsewhere, which is not admitted in evidence. You must follow the instructions on your jury summons or contact the judge to find out what you need to do to be exempted from jury service. My date of birth is _____. However, you may choose to be excused if you: (Texas Government Code 62.106. However, the Commissioners Court of a county may choose to reduce or eliminate the daily compensation for prospective jurors who attend court for only one day without actually serving on a jury. Be aware that you will likely be asked to shut off pagers and cellular phones before entering the jury room or courtroom. ); Are the primary caretaker of a person who is unable to care for himself or herself (This exemption does not apply to health care workers. State law mandates the process for selecting prospective jurors. They will have the same instructions and you will understand it when they do. If you have any doubts as to your eligibility to serve on a jury, contact the judge or court as indicated on your jury summons. Most Lake Jackson cases are concluded the same day. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Elected Officials - County, State and Federal, American Rescue Plan Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Brazoria County Hurricane Preparedness Expo, Brazoria County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Hurricane Harvey Substantial Damage Information, NOTICE to ALL CRIMINAL & JUVENILE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, Stephen F. Austin-Munson Historical County Park, Vendor Permits and Mass Gathering Information, Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Information, Brazoria County Independent School Districts, Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District, Brazoria County Awarded Certificate of Achievement, TxDOT Long Term Closures for Bridge Replacements, DSHS recalls oysters harvested in area of southeastern Galveston Bay. the Texas Legislature outlawed the controversial key man method of grand jury selection, Inside the Karaoke Bar Where Texas Lawmakers Serenade Each Other, The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Just taking the cards and shuffling themmaybe they shuffled well, and maybe they didnt., Lewis claimed that Barchaks system ensured greater minority representation on juries than a random shuffle, while also providing greater representation of rural areas. But What Is It? A juror's greatest reward is the knowledge that they have discharged this duty faithfully, honorably, and well. As a result of her idiosyncratic system, thousands of verdicts could potentially be overturned, and the county could face an avalanche of lawsuits claiming wrongful convictions. The Texas Rangers are in the process of investigating whether Rhonda Barchak, Brazoria County's former District Clerk, illegally stacked jury panels according to geography, race, and political . CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS. "There are cases, I believe, will have to be overturned because of purposed racial bias, on purpose, against those defendants.". In the event of any conflicts, the instructions and procedures given to you by the judge or the court should be followed. My address is _____. "I kept telling my son, 'I am not stopping until I come to some kind of conclusions on who did what,'" Hagger said. . Jury Online Find your court. I am of sound mind and good moral character. Brazoria County District Courts DO Postpone Jury Dates, 979-864-1836 (Central & West) She always did everything possible to ensure juries in Brazoria County reflected a properly representative cross section of the community. Investigation underway into jury assembly process in Brazoria County. A person who receives a summons for jury service and fails to answer the summons as directed by the summons, is subject to a contempt action that is punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000. That is, by definition, not random., In late August the Commissioners Court appointed former municipal judge Donna Starkey as interim district clerk. Do not make any investigation about the facts of this case. Gov. not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for, misdemeanor theft or a felony. Lewis declined to provide the names of those employees. Texas does not specify the randomization method that clerks must use, he said, so Barchaks system was fairer than simply shuffling the cards. Citizens on the list are randomly selected and mailed a summons to report for jury service. Because you may serve on a jury the first day you report to serve, you should wear clothing reasonably befitting the dignity and solemnity of the court proceedings. be a resident of this state and of the county in which you are to serve as a juror; 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); be of sound mind and good moral character; 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. Get Out of Jury Duty for Not Being Qualified. The information contained on this web site is not intended to take the place of the instructions given by the judge or the court concerning any aspect of jury service. Do not even discuss this case among yourselves until after you have heard all of the evidence, the court's charge, the attorneys' arguments and until I have sent you to the jury room to consider your verdict. Starkey and Meyers declined to speak about Barchaks system. You are a member of the United States Military Forces serving on active duty and deployed to a location away from your home station and out of your county of residence. Exemption from Jury Service). Why did I receive a summons and what do I do now? On the morning of July 19, several hundred Brazoria County residents appeared for jury duty in downtown Angleton, a fifty-minute drive south of Houston. However, you will probably be asked for a juror index number (or other number provided on the summons) and the service date (also on your summons). Each juror receives ten dollars ($10) for the first day of appearance and forty dollars ($40) for the second and any subsequent days of appearance. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. You can also expect to receive a brief orientation in the courtroom or in the jury assembly room regarding jury service. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. You will need to check with your local courthouse regarding special amenities. The summons needs to be returned indicating that the person does not live at the address. Angleton, TX 77515, Design By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. The district attorney considers the case closed, but it may not be over. If a delay occurs while you are present for jury service, please try to be patient with the court staff. Jury. That right has long been considered a fundamental safeguard of each American's civil liberties. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Gabriel Garcia Brazos County District Clerk 300 E. 26th Street, Suite 1200 - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Meanwhile, community activist Quanell X is now working with families who say their loved ones trials were impacted by how these juries were assembled. A Grand Jury declined to indict a former Brazoria County District Clerk after she was accused of handpicking juries and the District attorney considers the case closed, but still it may not be over. Williams is serving life for a murder, which Hagger believes he did not commit, and thinks an improper jury played a role in his conviction. For updates on this story, follow Tom Abrahams on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The process shes doing gives the jury a better chance of being a cross section, which is what were supposed to do with a jury pool, Lewis said. Do not mingle with nor talk to the lawyers, the witnesses, the parties, or any other person who might be connected with or interested in the case, except for casual greetings. If you receive a call about missing jury duty, please call the Brazoria County District Clerk's Office phone number at 979-864-1836 and the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office at 979-864-1230. All evidence must be presented in open court so that each side may question the witnesses and make proper objection. Solicitation Opportunities With Brazos County, National/State Veteran Cemetery Locations, Request Brazos County Birth, Death, and/or Marriage Certificate. http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER). Of these things for you was to ensure a representative distribution of potential jurors, misdemeanor theft or felony... May not be over ; 21 2:03pm case closed, but it may not be over a resident of City! 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