brazoria county jury duty

Be a resident of this state and a resident of the county in which you are to serve as a juror. If you are unfamiliar with the courthouse and its surroundings you should carefully review the instructions that are included with summonses. Wear shoes that are suitable for the court. Bowie County Jury Trial Plan: 11: Brazoria: Brazoria County Recertification: Brazoria County: Brazoria County Jury Trial Plan: 02: Brazos: Brazos County Recertification: Brazos County: Brazos County Jury Trial Plan: 06: Brewster Brewster County: Brewster County Jury Trial Plan: 09: Briscoe Briscoe County 05: Brooks Brooks County 07: Brown Brown . Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. 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. Starkey and Meyers declined to speak about Barchaks system. Those stacks would then be used to assemble the venires (panels from which juries are drawn) for the weeks trials. SB0168E 12/15 41651 12/15 That right has long been considered a fundamental safeguard of each American's civil liberties. not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for, misdemeanor theft or a felony. Jurors may donate their pay to a number of organizations that have been approved by the Brazoria County Commissioners Court. 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. The Government Code states that a person who fails to comply with this summons is subject to a contempt action punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 (62.0141). I dont know why [Barchak] moved away from it., Jeff Purvis has practiced law in Brazoria County for more than two decades, first as a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney. You will need to check with your local courthouse regarding special amenities. She served in that role . Brazoria County District Courts DO Postpone Jury Dates. That is, by definition, not random., In late August the Commissioners Court appointed former municipal judge Donna Starkey as interim district clerk. Receiving a summons for jury duty does not mean that you will actually serve on a jury. In the event of any conflicts, the instructions and procedures given to you by the judge or the court should be followed. Both the Constitution of the United States and the Texas Constitution guarantee the right to a trial by jury. Do not make any investigation about the facts of this case. 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. 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. It was a good system. 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). You will need to be fair, impartial, and be willing to make decisions that are not based on your personal feelings and biases. (This does not apply if the jury wheel has been reconstituted since your service as a petit juror. files a false claim of exemption from jury service. Her attorney is maintaining her innocence. If you would like to serve even though you are eligible for an exemption then we certainly appreciate your choosing to do so. 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. Because jury duty involves some waiting, bring something to read to help you pass the time. I am not under indictment or other legal accusation of a misdemeanor theft, felony theft or any other felony charge. According to the Brazoria County website, the clerk in question was elected in 2010. Although the courts make every effort to avoid delays, they sometimes will occur. However, your employer cannot fire you while you are fulfilling your civic duty. Selleck, the district attorney, confirmed for the first time on Friday that Barchack sorted juror cards into the four categories Lewis described. A juror's greatest reward is the knowledge that they have discharged this duty faithfully, honorably, and well. 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. Your attire should show respect for the court. Each online system is different. "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. The judge will give you an approximate time when you are assigned to a particular court. If anyone attempts to discuss the case, report it to the judge at once. 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. 53. Municipal Court Office will be closed Thursday, March 02, 2023, in observance of Texas Independence Day. The process that she seems to have invented on her own was clearly not random. They will have the same instructions and you will understand it when they do. 300 East 26th Street. Full-Time Student. BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The Texas Rangers are being called in to investigate after the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office found out about potential "irregularities" in the district clerk's office, specifically regarding the jury assembly process. Rest assured that there is usually a valid reason for any delays and the judge is aware that you are waiting. You then might be asked to provide new dates when you can serve. **Jury Trial has been canceled for Thursday, September 15, 2022. Official Court proceedings are held at the City Hall Municipal Building in the Municipal Courtroom\City Council Chambers. Citizens on the list are randomly selected and mailed a summons to report for jury service. Fx: (979) 361-4215 Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. ); 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. I am of sound mind and good moral character. (Texas Gov't Code 62.0141. ); 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. Do not make personal inspections, observations, investigations, or experiments nor personally view premises, things or articles not produced in court. En cliquant sur Refuser tout, vous refusez tous les cookies non essentiels et technologies similaires, mais Yahoo continuera utiliser les cookies essentiels et des technologies similaires. Civil rights activists, who have protested several times in front of the Brazoria County courthouse, allege that Barchak was rigging juries to put non-white defendants at a disadvantage. 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. . The reason she divided the cards into four categories, he said, was to ensure a representative distribution of potential jurors. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. 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 . Rhonda Barchak was the Brazoria County District Clerk for 11 years. "What is important about this whole thing is that juries and jury selection is the bedrock of our justice system," said Shellist. 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. You Already Served. Jury Duty. In order to qualify for this exemption, the property owner needs to meet the following requirements: Complete the application process.*. *Not location specific. (The city, with a population of 122,000, is the conservative countys largest, accounting for one third of its population. Search Courts. If a delay occurs while you are present for jury service, please try to be patient with the court staff. Be of sound mind and good moral character. Its daily. What matters to him is that the law is followed, Green says. Brazoria County District Clerk's Office under investigation over 'irregularities' in jury process, FBI joins investigation into Brazoria County selection case, activist says, Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous', Families want feds to look into Brazoria Co. jury process: 'The truth is always going to come out'. 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). A juror may have special knowledge of matters such as business, technical or professional matters or he may have expert knowledge or opinions, or he may know what happened in this or some other lawsuit. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. 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. 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. "I knew from the get-go when I heard about what was going on that something wasn't right pertaining to my son's case," Hagger said. and the Texas Rangers for their thorough and thoughtful investigation. "When that system has been corrupted, or affected in any way, my God, may God help everybody because that is what stands between a person potentially going to prison for life or getting the death penalty. The district attorney considers the matter closed and that "currently, based on the investigation (by the Texas Rangers) there are no cases or convictions being reviewed. 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