Brazoria County district clerk Rhonda Barchak sorted jurors by race and geography. If a delay occurs while you are present for jury service, please try to be patient with the court staff. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Each county receives a list of potential jurors from the Secretary of State that consists of those individuals in the county that are registered to vote, hold a Texas driver's license, or hold a Texas identification card. Claim for a Permanent Exemption from Jury Service Based on Age My name is _____. Through service on a jury, a citizen has a direct hand in the administration of justice. ", -U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren (1962). ); 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. That is, by definition, not random., In late August the Commissioners Court appointed former municipal judge Donna Starkey as interim district clerk. Activist Quanell X, who has been public about his concerns for months, staging rallies and protests outside of the county courthouse, said he wants the department of justice involved. For more information visit Brazoria County District Clerk's jury info. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. 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. Barchak, who resigned in late August after having held the post since 2010, divided up jurors by geographical region, and then by race, to assemble panels for criminal, civil, and family-law trials. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Citing the Texas Rangers ongoing investigation, which is expected to wrap up by the end of this month, Selleck would not comment further about what Barchak did with those four piles of cards, or about any other details of the case. Step 1: Dress inappropriate clothing: You should dress professionally and appropriately for jury duty. Be sure that you know where you are supposed to report. The Court entry and parking lot face Chenango Street. 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. You MAY claim an exemption from jury duty if you are: Brazoria County Courthouse Is any of the above incorrect? 111 E Locust, Rm 102A, Angleton, TX77515-4678 Lewis declined to provide the names of those employees. You will be asked to return the completed questionnaire to the court by mail, or to bring the completed questionnaire with you when you report for jury service. Your attire should show respect for the court. Do not discuss anything about this case, or even mention it to anyone whomsoever, including your wife or husband nor permit anyone to mention it in your hearing until you are discharged as jurors or excused form this case. ); Have legal custody of a child younger than 12 years of age and your service on the jury requires leaving the child without adequate supervision; Are a student of a public or private secondary school; Are a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education; Are an officer or an employee of the senate, house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of government; Have served as a petit juror in the county during the 24-month period preceding the date you are required to appear for this summons. ); 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. I believe thats generally the case, he said. To postpone your Jury Service, call: 979-864-1836 (Central & West) 979-388-1836 (Brazosport) -See JURY SERVICE - Tex. With your cooperation and attention to detail, the jury selection process may run smoother and be completed faster. Friday, October 8, 2021. Figuring out what to do when you have been summoned for jury duty can be confusing and frustrating. You are not required to claim an exemption from jury service. Also, try to keep an open mind about your jury service and remember that you are playing an essential role in our justice system. Juror's names are selected from current voter registration lists. 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. Nate Moore Sr., who served as deputy district clerk for sixteen years under Barchaks predecessor, said the county had no consistent system for selecting the venires. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. While the jury selection process may require your attendance for a day or a fraction of a day, jury duty generally lasts about one week. by: Magnolia832 4 OP. Exemption from Jury Service). ), (Texas Gov't Code 62.111. The easiest way to get out of jury duty is by not being qualified in the first place. ~ 2 years, 0 mos ago Jan 18, '21 2:03pm. While some counties choose to mail a questionnaire to prospective jurors to determine their eligibility prior to mailing the official jury summons, other counties mail the questionnaire and the jury summons together. Because you will need to consider all of the evidence admitted by the judge, it is important that you pay close attention to the evidence as it is presented at trial. Please note: CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. Wear shoes that are suitable for the court. She left the job after law enforcement began investigating the possibility that she wrongly empaneled jury pools. Also, you should dress comfortably because you may be in the courthouse for the entire day. Unfortunately your employer is not currently required by Texas state law to pay you while you are serving jury duty. JURY SERVICE. 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. A mother might say, my child was taken away from me, and that was illegally done by a jury. Why did I receive a summons and what do I do now? En cliquant sur Accepter tout, vous acceptez que Yahoo et nos partenaires traitent vos informations personnelles et utilisent des technologies telles que les cookies pour afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss, et des fins de mesure des publicits et des contenus, dtude des audiences et de dveloppement de produit. These allegations about a corrupt process first surfaced in late August. And then, white residents who (also) didn't live in Pearland, and nonwhite residents who (also) didn't live in Pearland. Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous' By Courtney Carpenter. Allen, TX Arlington, TX Arlington, TX Test . In a statement sent to ABC13 on Friday, Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck said, "The law requires jurors to be selected at random and it is this process that is alleged to have been conducted improperly.". Ph: (979) 361-4224. "Rhonda assumed the duties of the Brazoria County District Clerk on July 2, 2010. You then might be asked to provide new dates when you can serve. To be qualified to serve on a jury, the person must: A juror's greatest reward is the knowledge that they have discharged this duty faithfully, honorably, and well. the Texas Crime Victim's Compensation Fund, a designated local family violence shelter; or. Bring on the Shiplap? RELATED: Families want feds to look into Brazoria Co. jury process: 'The truth is always going to come out'. Be of sound mind and good moral character. Let us know here, 23rd District Court111 E Locust, Rm 4040.0 mile away, 149th District Court111 E Locust, Rm 214A0.0 mile away, 239th District Court111 E Locust, Rm 310A0.0 mile away, 2023 Everything-Bytes | Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. 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. Jurors may donate their pay to a number of organizations that have been approved by the Brazoria County Commissioners Court. 111 E. Locust, Suite 500 Listen carefully and follow the instructions given by court personnel and the judge. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. *Please call to verify. There are parents out there who had their rights terminated, Purvis said. All Rights Reserved. Now Shes Auctioning Off Her Archive. I have not been convicted of theft or any felony. 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. $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. However, you may choose to be excused if you: (Texas Government Code 62.106. When you report for jury service, you should receive or request a form that allows you to direct the county treasurer to donate your reimbursement for jury service to a designated charity or fund which should include: Your employer is not required to pay you for any time that you missed from work due to jury service. However the law states that an employer can not terminate your employment for attending jury service. My address is _____. These rules apply to jurors the same as they apply to the parties and to me. Do not tell other jurors your own personal experiences nor those of other persons, nor relate any special information. 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). HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002. You need to contact the judge or the court to be excused on this basis. Theres a tremendous amount of liability on the part of the county.. I desire to obtain a permanent exemption from jury service because I am over 70 years of age. ", But, a grand jury chose not to indict her. You need to contact the judge or the court to be exempted on this basis. (This does not apply if the jury wheel has been reconstituted since your service as a petit juror. You will not be asked, and you should not consider, whether one party or the other should win. (979) 864-1836. Be a citizen of Texas and a resident of Brazoria County in which you are to serve as a juror, Be of sound mind and good moral character, Be qualified under the constitution and laws to vote in Brazoria County in which you are to serve as a juror (you do not have to be registered to vote to be qualified to vote), Currently living within the limits of the City of Lake Jackson, Not be under indictment or other legal accusation of a misdemeanor theft, felony theft, or any other felony charge, Not have been convicted of theft or any felony, 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. jury duty. We hope you find this information beneficial. ", RELATED: FBI joins investigation into Brazoria County selection case, activist says, Barchak's attorney sent a statement to ABC13 which read, "We would like to thank the Brazoria County D.A. Find your jury summons. Leave them blank to get signed up. "So they would have a stack of people who were white residents of Pearland, nonwhite residents of Pearland. Bring money. Her attorney is maintaining her innocence. 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. But What Is It? 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Jurors aid in the maintenance of law and order and uphold justice among their fellow citizens. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. Solicitation Opportunities With Brazos County, National/State Veteran Cemetery Locations, Request Brazos County Birth, Death, and/or Marriage Certificate. In order to qualify for this exemption, the property owner needs to meet the following requirements: Complete the application process.*. Jury. And its full of great reads, yall. 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. Under state law, jurors are supposed to be selected at random from the pool of those whove been called to jury duty. However, the majority, usually more than two-thirds, of all summoned jurors are NOT actually selected for service, therefore, their duty ends after a short time with the completion of the jury selection process. Do not make any investigation about the facts of this case. Houston Chronicle Reporter Anna Bauman read the report and explains how Barchak may have violated Texas law which states jury selection must be random. The Court greatly appreciates citizens who participate in this service. Please write on the front or back of the summons Active duty military and return to our office. Brazoria County District Courts DO Postpone Jury Dates. Do not let anyone else do any of these things for you. This is improper. As a juror, you are in a position of responsibility. 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 . Its free. Listen for the judge to give you instructions about when to come forward to discuss your need to be excused based on some hardship. Do not seek information contained in law books, dictionaries, public or private records or elsewhere, which is not admitted in evidence. You might also bring a light sweater or jacket in case the temperature in the courthouse is somewhat cold. not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for, misdemeanor theft or a felony. This avoids a trial based upon secret evidence. Judicial Committee on Information Technology, Task Force on Judicial Emergency Preparedness, Texas Commission to Expand Civil Legal Services, Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission, Guardianship Abuse, Fraud and Exploitation Deterrence Program (GAFEDP), Pretrial Risk Assessment Information System for Texas, Texas Records and Information Locator (TRAIL). He began hearing rumors about Barchaks system around the time of the DAs announcement in August. Prospective jurors in the state of Texas who are over 70 years of age may claim excusal from jury service, or request a permanent age 70 exemption from any further summons or service. ", $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. As in all Texas counties, eligible Brazoria residents are summoned to jury duty at random, based on an electronic list provided by the Texas Secretary of State. The judge will give you an approximate time when you are assigned to a particular court. Multiple judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and dozens of other county employees were privy to the process of jury empanelment, he said, and no one ever expressed any dissatisfaction or complaint about the process, as the process did not disenfranchise [any] potential jurors. Top officials, including Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta, declined requests for an interview. Jury duty is a civic responsibility that you do not get paid to attend. I am a resident of the City of Angleton for which the court is established. Among the district clerk candidates in next years election is Barchaks former chief deputy, Republican Cayla Meyers, who recently resigned. For those jurors who are selected to serve in a jury panel, the judge and the attorneys may be able to estimate how long that particular trial will last. (Supreme Court Rule of Civil Procedure 226a). Her goal was inclusion of all races and all demographics.". . 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. But when the selected jurors in Brazoria arrived for dutyusually on Monday mornings at the county courthouse in AngletonBarchaks method of dividing them up for trials diverged sharply from the systems used by other Texas district clerks, who typically draw cardsrandomly from a stack or use technology to automate a random selection. After questioning the prospective jurors, the lawyers and the parties they represent will be given the opportunity to make any challenges for cause and peremptory challenges to individual prospective jurors (see definitions). . Though the court or the county may provide parking or reimburse parking costs, you might have to pay them initially. Jury service is an important civic and community duty. 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 always did everything possible to ensure juries in Brazoria County reflected a properly representative cross section of the community. General Qualifications for Jury Service. You will need to check with your local courthouse regarding special amenities. 4 below. 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 . "What is important about this whole thing is that juries and jury selection is the bedrock of our justice system," said Shellist. Visit our Links Page for websites providing Employment Listings, as well as US Government holiday closings. In the state of Texas, there are possible exemptions for full time students enrolled in a college institution, caregivers of children under ten . Selleck also announced that he requested the assistance of the Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit to help investigate the matter. The district clerks of nearby Wharton, Montgomery, and Matagorda counties said they had never heard of anyone using Barchaks method. As a defense lawyer, I dont want twelve people from Pearland judging my guy from Freeport. 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. (The city, with a population of 122,000, is the conservative countys largest, accounting for one third of its population. Investigation underway into jury assembly process in Brazoria County. Penalties for Failure to Answer Summons. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Lewis said Barchak received no training on how to randomize the cards, and that she learned the technique from other county employees. Veteran Texas attorney David Sheppard, who recently retired after practicing criminal law for more than forty years and was as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Texas School of Law,said he had never heard of a system like Barchaks. 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