Visit our Links Page for websites providing Employment Listings, as well as US Government holiday closings. Jury duty is a valuable service to the community and is an important responsibility since jurors determine a defendants guilt or innocence and, in the case of a guilty finding, assess fines. Because jury duty involves some waiting, bring something to read to help you pass the time. 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. and the Texas Rangers for their thorough and thoughtful investigation. Please note: That is, by definition, not random., In late August the Commissioners Court appointed former municipal judge Donna Starkey as interim district clerk. They will have the same instructions and you will understand it when they do. 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. At this time the only type of employment that may claim an exemption from jury duty is exemption No. Assists prospective jurors with assignment information and administers juror payments. (979) 864-1836. We hope you find this information beneficial. The Court entry and parking lot face Chenango Street. You will need to be fair, impartial, and be willing to make decisions that are not based on your personal feelings and biases. Former Brazoria County District Clerk's jury pool selection process under scrutiny. Next, Lewis said, Barchak would subdivide the two geographical piles into white and non-white jurors. Brazoria County resident Linda Hagger believes her son, Brandon Williams, was wrongly convicted 11 years ago. 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. Allen, TX Arlington, TX Arlington, TX Test . Slectionnez Grer les paramtres pour grer vos prfrences. 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. If you are unfamiliar with the courthouse and its surroundings you should carefully review the instructions that are included with summonses. Friday, October 8, 2021. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. Brazoria County district clerk Rhonda Barchak sorted jurors by race and geography. Both you and other prospective jurors who report for jury service will be given an opportunity to voluntarily donate your juror pay to certain local or state charitable causes. CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS. ** There is no need to make an appearance if you are scheduled to appear as a prospective juror on September 15, 2022. Barchaks method, said Matagorda County district clerk Janice Hawthorne, takes away the whole random process., In additional to potentially violating state law, Barchaks system appears to differ from her own jury plan, which she submitted to the Brazoria County Commissioners Court for approval in 2018. page at bit.ly/33kzxFb. 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. This guide gives you the information you need when you have been called for jury duty and directs you to additional resources that can explain the court system and jury process. Investigation underway into jury assembly process in Brazoria County. You need to contact the judge or the court to be exempted on this basis. Its not that hard.. Call your District Clerk's office. Physical and mailing address is 111 E. Locust St., Ste. Citizens on the list are randomly selected and mailed a summons to report for jury service. To claim an exemption from jury service contact the court Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 979-849-2471. Brazoria County District Courts DO Postpone Jury Dates, 979-864-1836 (Central & West) *Please call to verify. "If you could do this to my son and all the other individuals and think it's okay then she needs to be punished according to what she did to them.". You might also bring a light sweater or jacket in case the temperature in the courthouse is somewhat cold. Full-Time Student. Brazoria County, Phone Number: 979-864-1200 You will need to check with your local courthouse regarding special amenities. RELATED: Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous'. State law mandates the process for selecting prospective jurors. The process that she seems to have invented on her own was clearly not random. (Texas Gov't Code 62.0141. Lewis said Barchak knew nothing about the trials for which jurors were being selected. 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. 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. If you have questions about your jury summons or jury duty, please contact the appropriate court or judge as indicated on the jury summons. You are not required to claim an exemption even though one might apply to you. All Rights Reserved. YES! Please write on the front or back of the summons Active duty military and return to our office. 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. Failure to Answer Jury Summons. Ph: (979) 361-4224. 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). (. Also, you might want to avoid parking in metered parking spaces because you do not know how long you will be in jury service. We will then forward this information to the Brazoria County elections department. Both the Constitution of the United States and the Texas Constitution guarantee the right to a trial by jury. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. The Brazoria County District Attorney's Office has received information that leads them to believe jury panels may have been assembled in a manner "inconsistent with applicable statutes and law.". TikTok Is Banking On Project Texas to Avoid a U.S. Ban. Listen for the judge to give you instructions about when to come forward to discuss your need to be excused based on some hardship. any other program(s) approved by the commissioners 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 . Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en consultant vos paramtres de vie prive. If any of these apply to you, contact the court to verify they observe the exemption. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. The easiest way to get out of jury duty is by not being qualified in the first place. 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. EMBED <> More Videos The Texas Rangers confirmed to ABC13 that their investigation is complete. She now had four stacks of cards: Pearland whites, Pearland non-whites, non-Pearland whites, and non-Pearland non-whites. I am a resident of the City of Angleton for which the court is established. In the state of Texas, there are possible exemptions for full time students enrolled in a college institution, caregivers of children under ten . 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. $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. Penalty for Defaulting Jurors.). 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. Court System Type: County Constitutional Court Division: Contact Information: Phone Number: 979-864-1200 Website: http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp I am a citizen of the state of Texas and a resident of Brazoria County. 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. 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. The process begins as groups of prospective jurors, usually numbering fifty to sixty in district courts, are assembled in a courtroom with the judge, the lawyers, and usually the parties of a particular case. Barchaks methods were widely known to county officials, Lewis said. To be qualified to serve as a juror you must: Jurors are paid for their service. Type "postpone jury duty" and then your county. Selleck, the district attorney, confirmed for the first time on Friday that Barchack sorted juror cards into the four categories Lewis described. The judge will instruct you to adhere to the following basic rules: At the conclusion of all the evidence, the judge may give you a written charge that asks you some specific questions. The Court greatly appreciates citizens who participate in this service. 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. Among the district clerk candidates in next years election is Barchaks former chief deputy, Republican Cayla Meyers, who recently resigned. To postpone your Jury Service, call: 979-864-1836 (Central & West) 979-388-1836 (Brazosport) Please write on the front or back of the summons Deceased and return to our office. 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. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. But Rhonda Barchak, a Republican who served as district clerk in the fast-growing county that stretches from the Houston suburbs to the Gulf Coast, had her own method. files a false claim of exemption from jury service. The Brazoria County District Attorney's Office has received information that leads them to believe jury panels may have been assembled in a manner "inconsistent with applicable statutes and law." Those stacks would then be used to assemble the venires (panels from which juries are drawn) for the weeks trials. Are over 70 years of age (You may also request a permanent age 70 exemption. 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. For updates on this story, follow Tom Abrahams on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 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. Wear shoes that are suitable for the court. 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). Rest assured that there is usually a valid reason for any delays and the judge is aware that you are waiting. Do not tell other jurors your own personal experiences nor those of other persons, nor relate any special information. Is any of the above incorrect? There are no transportation exemptions. But if she was aiming for a venire that reflected the countys population, she had a problem: Brazoria Countys population has become more diverse, changing from 51 percent non-white to 57 percent non-white in the years since 2015. . http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER). They have demonstrated a vision and a will toward the administration of justice that is a wellspring of inspiration. My date of birth is _____. 111 E. Locust St. The acting district attorney for Brazoria County confirmed that his office did present findings to a grand jury today, and should conclude Thursday. Be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in this county in which you are to serve as a juror. -See JURY SERVICE - Tex. She always did everything possible to ensure juries in Brazoria County reflected a properly representative cross section of the community. However the law states that an employer can not terminate your employment for attending jury service. Jurors may donate their pay to a number of organizations that have been approved by the Brazoria County Commissioners Court. Brazoria County is 43 percent white, 31 . 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. Hagger has reached out to Congressman Al Green, who confirmed to ABC13 he is working to learn more about the irregularities in the jury system in Brazoria County. Do not make any investigation about the facts of this case. jury duty. 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. Penalties for Failure to Answer Summons. 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. This exemption is available to those homeowners who are 65 years of age or older. You then might be asked to provide new dates when you can serve. The community [stretches] from Pearland to Freeport, he said. Search Courts. Its free. The summons needs to be returned indicating that the person does not live at the address. A venire evenly divided between white and non-white residents would have meant underrepresentation of people of color on juries. "I'm putting my faith in the Department of Justice to come back with their conclusion in what they're discovering and finding in a jury tampering system and what took place in Brazoria County, Texas," Quanell told ABC13. 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