Juror's names are selected from current voter registration lists. As noted by the Honorable Tom C. Clark, Texan and former justice of the United States Supreme Court, "The jury system improves the quality of justice and is the sole means of keeping its administration attuned to community standards.". Entering the courthouse with a prohibited weapon is against the law. According to the Brazoria County website, the clerk in question was elected in 2010. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. It was a good system. ); 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. not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for, misdemeanor theft or a felony. 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. You can, however, claim payment if your earnings are in any way affected by your participation. You will not be asked, and you should not consider, whether one party or the other should win. Angleton, TX 77515-4678, Brazoria County Courthouse You have just taken an oath that you will render a verdict on the evidence submitted to you under the judge's rulings. The City of Angleton Municipal Court is located in the rear of the City Hall Municipal Building on Hwy 288B (Velasco Street). 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. Pointed items, such as pocket knives or knitting needles, are not permitted in the courthouse. What matters to him is that the law is followed, Green says. According to Lewis, a defense attorney who has represented such high-profile clients as Enron chief executive Ken Lay, convicted murderer Robert Durst, and Mexican drug kingpin Osiel Crdenas Guilln, Barchak would take the full stack of around 200 to 250 juror cards into a back room, where she and other county employees would first sort them into two piles: Pearland residents and non-Pearland residents. Anything considered to be a weapon or that is deemed unacceptable by the security staff will be confiscated. 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. Mrs. Barchak remains grateful for the opportunity to have served her community. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. The law requires jurors be selected at random, said Selleck, also a Republican, and it is this process that is alleged to have been conducted improperly.. For at least six years, the district clerk in Brazoria County used a highly unusual and possibly illegal system to assemble jury panels. Because jury duty involves some waiting, bring something to read to help you pass the time. RELATED: Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous'. 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. Also, try to keep an open mind about your jury service and remember that you are playing an essential role in our justice system. Linda Coffee Argued Roe v. Wade. Complete Jury Orientation: Jury orientation is mandatory for all jurors prior to reporting for jury service. I am a citizen of the state of Texas and a resident of Brazoria County. For more information visit Brazoria County District Clerk's jury info. seq.). Full-Time Student. Also, you might want to avoid parking in metered parking spaces because you do not know how long you will be in jury service. Former Brazoria County District Clerk's jury pool selection process under scrutiny. 3. HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002. Sometimes the cards were shuffled, and sometimes they were organized according to the order in which the jurors arrived for duty. A district court judge may permanently or temporarily exempt from jury service a person with a physical or mental impairment or with an inability to comprehend or communicate in the English language that makes it impossible or very difficult to serve on a jury. However, you may choose to be excused if you: (Texas Government Code 62.106. *county-courthouse.com is not affiliated with the Official US Government, or any state, local, or federal office. Jury lists are created using names randomly selected from our water utility listing. The district clerks of nearby Wharton, Montgomery, and Matagorda counties said they had never heard of anyone using Barchaks method. 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. page at bit.ly/33kzxFb. . That is, by definition, not random., In late August the Commissioners Court appointed former municipal judge Donna Starkey as interim district clerk. 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. A juror's greatest reward is the knowledge that they have discharged this duty faithfully, honorably, and well. General Qualifications for Jury Service. Also, you should dress comfortably because you may be in the courthouse for the entire day. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. All Rights Reserved. Municipal Court Office will be closed Thursday, March 02, 2023, in observance of Texas Independence Day. To serve as a juror you must meet the following qualifications: For additional information about Juror exemptions please view the following document: - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Theres a tremendous amount of liability on the part of the county.. In order to qualify for this exemption, the property owner needs to meet the following requirements: Complete the application process.*. For updates on this story, follow Tom Abrahams on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Your attire should show respect for the court. Brazoria County resident Linda Hagger believes her son, Brandon Williams, was wrongly convicted 11 years ago. Jury duty is a civic responsibility that you do not get paid to attend. Bryan, TX 77803. With your cooperation and attention to detail, the jury selection process may run smoother and be completed faster. When you report for jury service, you will likely find that there are well-trained court personnel available to assist you and to answer any questions that you may have concerning jury duty. If you have questions about your jury summons or jury duty, please contact the appropriate court or judge as indicated on the jury summons. On Wednesday, Aug. 25, the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office announced it had received information that leads them to believe jury panels may have been assembled in a manner "inconsistent with applicable statutes and law.". Houston Chronicle Reporter Anna Bauman read the report and explains how Barchak may have violated Texas law which states jury selection must be random. Please write on the front or back of the summons Deceased and return to our office. Do not mingle with nor talk to the lawyers, the witnesses, the parties, or any other person who might be connected with or interested in the case, except for casual greetings. He rejected Lewiss explanation that Barchak never received proper training and said her system likely violated state law. 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. Its free. Suite 2214. 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. Penalties for Failure to Answer Summons. Jury service is an important civic and community duty. I desire to obtain a permanent exemption from jury service because I am over 70 years of age. You do not need any special skills or legal knowledge to be a juror! "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. Bring money. But What Is It? Not surprising given the political climate in Brazoria County. 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. Texas has a statutory exemption that allows individuals over a certain age to request exemption from jury duty. However the law states that an employer can not terminate your employment for attending jury service. If any of these apply to you, contact the court to verify they observe the exemption. Wear a suit or dress with a skirt. After all challenges are utilized, a jury with one to four alternates is impaneled to hear the evidence in the case. (The city, with a population of 122,000, is the conservative countys largest, accounting for one third of its population. Please write on the front or back of the summons Active duty military and return to our office. "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. Brazoria County, Phone Number: 979-864-1200 1,870 talking about this. jury duty. The acting district attorney for Brazoria County confirmed that his office did present findings to a grand jury today, and should conclude Thursday. 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. 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." Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. The Court greatly appreciates citizens who participate in this service. http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER). 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. Because jury duty involves some waiting, bring something to read to help you pass the time. 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. Are over 70 years of age (You may also request a permanent age 70 exemption. A mother might say, my child was taken away from me, and that was illegally done by a jury. There are parents out there who had their rights terminated, Purvis said. 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. Take advantage of any free parking offered to prospective jurors. the Texas Crime Victim's Compensation Fund, a designated local family violence shelter; or. Jurors are paid for their service. The easiest way to get out of jury duty is by not being qualified in the first place. 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.". The following day, the district clerk in question, retired. Jury Duty. Unfortunately there are no business/self-employment exemptions administered by the state legislature at this time. 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. Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom, Wendy Davis Returns to the Texas Capitol and a Whole New Political Landscape, Red McCombs Turned Old San Antonio on Its Head, Attorney General Ken Paxton Agrees to Apologize and Pay $3.3 Million to Whistleblowers, Running Into Fire: The Legacy of Jeff Blackburn, Inside the Bro-tastic Party Mansions Upending a Historic Austin Community, How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire. 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. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. Her attorney says the method was harmless, but the Texas Rangers are investigating. 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.". Before choosing to reschedule your service please understand that you are limited to just ONE change so please be sure that you choose your new appearance date carefully. Lawyers then conduct what is called voir dire (which means to speak the truth), which allows the lawyers and the judge to have the opportunity to ask each prospective juror a series of questions. Although the courts make every effort to avoid delays, they sometimes will occur. The court has the discretion to hear any reasonable sworn excuse of a prospective juror and either release the juror from jury service or reschedule the juror's jury service for another day. (. 300 East 26th Street. Theres a large cultural difference between Pearland and Freeporta small rural townalthough theyre in the same county.. 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'. 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 . August 27, 2021, 9:30 PM. and the Texas Rangers for their thorough and thoughtful investigation. 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. ); 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. Through service on a jury, a citizen has a direct hand in the administration of justice. Brazoria County District Courts DO Postpone Jury Dates. Barchaks methods were widely known to county officials, Lewis said. The Brazoria County Courthouseis open on M-F from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This juror site provides basic juror information on preparing for jury service and what to expect while serving, how to complete your jury summons, frequently asked questions, and provides helpful information about the courthouse to which you have been summoned. If you know of, or learn anything about, this case except from the evidence admitted during the course of this trial, you should tell me about it at once. Though the court or the county may provide parking or reimburse parking costs, you might have to pay them initially. Penalty for Defaulting Jurors.). 111 E. Locust, Suite 500 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. Pour en savoir plus sur notre utilisation de vos informations, veuillez consulter notre Politique relative la vie prive et notre Politique en matire de cookies. At this point, we do not know how long these alleged irregularities may have been going on. My date of birth is _____. As a juror, you are in a position of responsibility. Why did I receive a summons and what do I do now? You might also bring a light sweater or jacket in case the temperature in the courthouse is somewhat cold. This discussion has been locked. Claim for a Permanent Exemption from Jury Service Based on Age My name is _____. Figuring out what to do when you have been summoned for jury duty can be confusing and frustrating. The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. Violated Texas law which states jury selection process under scrutiny this service to read to help you the! Not surprising given the political climate in Brazoria County district clerk & # ;. However the law states that an employer can not terminate your employment for attending jury service based age. The rear of the summons Deceased and return to our office the entire day community.. Summons Deceased and return to our office through service on a jury a.m. to 5:00.. Conservative countys largest, accounting for one third of its population is impaneled to hear evidence. Confusing and frustrating: 979-864-1200 1,870 talking about this third of its population permanent age 70.. Based on age my name is _____ prohibited weapon is against the.! 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