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JURY SERVICE
INFORMATION
Why is Jury
Service important?
The United States Constitution
and the Texas Constitution guarantee all people, regardless of race,
religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to trial
by an impartial jury.
What is my duty as
a Juror?
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.
How was I
selected?
You were selected at random
from a list of voter registrations and a list of driver registrations
from the county in which you live.
Am I eligible?
Jurors Must:
- Be a citizen of the United States and
and a resident of the City of Arlington in order to serve as a
juror for Municipal Court.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Reside in the county of jury service.
- Be able to read and write.
- Be of sound mind.
You Cannot Serve On A Jury If:
-
You have been convicted of a
felony or of any type of theft (unless rights have been restored);
If you are in doubt, or think you may not
be qualified to serve on a jury for one of the above or any other
reasons, please notify the Judge.
Who can be excused
from Jury Service?
You are entitled to be excused as a juror if
you:
- Are over 70 years of age;
- Have legal custody of a child under 10
years of age and jury service would leave the child unsupervised;
- Are a student in class;
- Are the caretaker of a person who is unable
to care for themselves (an invalid); or
- Can show a physical or mental impairment or
an inability to comprehend or to communicate in English.
What Are The
Different Types Of Cases?
There are two basic types of cases, criminal
and civil (including family cases).
Criminal Cases:
A criminal case results when a
person is accused of committing a crime. You, as a Juror, must decide
whether the person charged is guilty or not guilty. The accused person
is presumed innocent, and the State, represented by the District or
County Attorney, must prove guilt "beyond a reasonable
doubt."
Civil Cases:
A civil case results
from a disagreement or dispute between two or more parties. In a civil
case, you, as a juror, must answer questions of disputed facts based
upon the testimony and evidence admitted by the Judge. The answers to
these questions are called the verdict. Note:
Municipal Court does not hear civil cases.
Will I be paid for
being a Juror?
Yes. You will be paid a minimum of $6.00 for
each day you actually serve on the jury.
Must my employer
pay me while I am on Jury Duty?
Your employer is not required
to pay you while on jury duty; however, employers are prohibited by
law from firing an employee for serving as a Juror.
Who Can Have A
Jury Trial?
Any person charged with a
criminal offense or any party to a civil case has a right to a jury
trial. All parties are equal before the law and each is entitled to
the same fair treatment.
Are There Rules
about Jury Conduct?
Yes. The Texas Supreme Court has rules to
assist you in your conduct as a Juror which will be given to you by
the Judge.
Files
Click
here to get a Jury Exemption form (pdf)
The
above file is in PDF file format and requires Adobe Acrobat in order to
be able to view it. If you don't have it, you can
download it here.
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