JURY INFORMATION

JUROR'S DUTIES

A juror must be fair and impartial and able to make decisions free of any bias or prejudice. Jurors are charged with carefully listening to and evaluating the evidence presented in the case. The United States Constitution guarantees all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to a trial by an impartial jury. The jurors must unanimously agree that the defendant is or is not guilty of the offense alleged.

JUROR SELECTION

Jurors who serve on the Burleson Municipal Court are randomly selected from a list provided by the City of Burleson Water Department. The jury panel will result in a jury of six (6) persons who reside in the City of Burleson.

PAYMENT FOR JURY SERVICES

If you actually serve on the jury, you will be paid $6.00 per day for each day you actually serve. Most cases in a municipal court are concluded within a few hours. Your employer is not required to pay you for the time away from work while serving on jury duty. However, an employer is prohibited by law from firing any employee for serving as a juror.

ELIGIBILITY

A municipal court juror must be:

• a citizen of the United States and a resident of the county in which juror is to serve
• 18 years of age or older
• be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in the county in which you are to serve as a juror
• able to read and write
• of sound mind

A person cannot serve on a jury if

• he or she has been convicted of a theft or an felony (unless all rights have been fully restored by law)
• he or she is under indictment or other legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or a felony
• he or she has 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

* If there is any doubt as to whether you qualify as a juror for one or more of the above reasons please notify the judge prior to the trial.

EXEMPTIONS FROM JURY SERVICE

You may be excused from jury service if:

• you are over 70 years of age
• you have legal custody of a child or children younger than 10 years of age and service on the jury would require leaving the child or children without adequate supervision
• you are a student at a public or private high school
• you are enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher learning
• you are an officer or an employee of the senate, the house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state government
• you are the primary caretaker of a person who is an invalid unable to care for himself or herself. (This exemption does not apply to health care workers.)
• you are a member of the U.S. military forces serving on active duty and employed to a location away from your home station and out of your county of residence

* You are not required to claim an exemption. It is your choice.