Informations sur votre appareil et sur votre connexion Internet, y compris votre adresseIP, Navigation et recherche lors de lutilisation des sites Web et applications Yahoo. You are not required to claim an exemption from jury service. For updates on this story, follow Tom Abrahams on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. However, your employer cannot fire you while you are fulfilling your civic duty. not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for, misdemeanor theft or a felony. Municipal Court Office will be closed Thursday, March 02, 2023, in observance of Texas Independence Day. Take advantage of any free parking offered to prospective jurors. Though the court or the county may provide parking or reimburse parking costs, you might have to pay them initially. Rhonda Barchak was the Brazoria County District Clerk for 11 years. Unfortunately there are no business/self-employment exemptions administered by the state legislature at this time. **Jury Trial has been canceled for Thursday, September 15, 2022. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. "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. 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. Some courthouses may have additional accommodations for you, such as internet access, lap to stations, and reading. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Step 1: Dress inappropriate clothing: You should dress professionally and appropriately for jury duty. 4 below. 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. Its daily. 500, Angleton, TX 77515. For more information visit Brazoria County District Clerk's jury info. The approved plan stipulated that the district clerk would randomly select panels of prospective jurors. Paula Hannaford, director of the Center for Jury Studies at the National Center for State Courts in Virginia, said Barchak would likely have needed specific authorization to diverge from the standard randomization process. Her attorney is maintaining her innocence. Brazoria County, Phone Number: 979-864-1200 Citizens over the age of 70 can be exempt from jury service under this age exception.. Do not make personal inspections, observations, investigations, or experiments nor personally view premises, things or articles not produced in court. The FBI says per Department of Justice policy . Investigation underway into jury assembly process in Brazoria County. 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. To be qualified to serve as a juror you must: *Note that the completion of deferred adjudication is not a disqualifying "conviction". Jury duty is a civic responsibility that you do not get paid to attend. Barchak, who resigned in late August after having held the post since 2010, divided up jurors by geographical region, and then by race, to assemble panels for criminal, civil, and family-law trials. Receiving a summons for jury duty does not mean that you will actually serve on a jury. ATTENTION JURORS: A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. A venire evenly divided between white and non-white residents would have meant underrepresentation of people of color on juries. ANGLETON, Texas - The Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit is now investigating an alleged corrupt jury selection process in Brazoria County that's been happening for more than a decade. 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. be a resident of this state and of the county in which you are to serve as a juror; be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in the county in which you are to serve as a juror (Note: You do not have to be registered to vote to be qualified to vote); be of sound mind and good moral character; 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; and. "What is important about this whole thing is that juries and jury selection is the bedrock of our justice system," said Shellist. Gov. Selleck also announced that he requested the assistance of the Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit to help investigate the matter. Jury. 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. 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. Please write on the front or back of the summons Active duty military and return to our office. Do not seek information contained in law books, dictionaries, public or private records or elsewhere, which is not admitted in evidence. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. ); or. Mrs. Barchak remains grateful for the opportunity to have served her community. If you were summoned and you no longer reside in Angleton, contact the voter registration office to have your named removed from their list. Jurors are paid for their service. by: Magnolia832 4 OP. You need to contact the judge or the court to be exempted on this basis. Her goal was inclusion of all races and all demographics.". After questioning the prospective jurors, the lawyers and the parties they represent will be given the opportunity to make any challenges for cause and peremptory challenges to individual prospective jurors (see definitions). page at bit.ly/33kzxFb. 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. Do not let anyone else do any of these things for you. Occasionally, we have a juror who privately seeks out information about a case on trial. Brazoria County resident Linda Hagger believes her son, Brandon Williams, was wrongly convicted 11 years ago. . Now Shes Auctioning Off Her Archive. 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. 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.. ); 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. You have just taken an oath that you will render a verdict on the evidence submitted to you under the judge's rulings. Find your jury summons. Exemption from Jury Service). Because jury duty involves some waiting, bring something to read to help you pass the time. My question is, why did it have to be so complicated? he said. You dont need training to read the Code of Criminal Procedure, Sheppard said. You might also bring a light sweater or jacket in case the temperature in the courthouse is somewhat cold. You MAY claim an exemption from jury duty if you are: Brazoria County Courthouse I am not under indictment or other legal accusation of a misdemeanor theft, felony theft or any other felony charge. (Texas Gov't Code 62.0141. A juror who is lawfully notified to attend court is subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 if that juror either: fails to attend court in obedience to the notice without a reasonable excuse; or. Also, you may need money to pay for snacks, lunch, or pay phones. To postpone your Jury Service, call: 979-864-1836 (Central & West) 979-388-1836 (Brazosport) 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. She always did everything possible to ensure juries in Brazoria County reflected a properly representative cross section of the community. CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS. Code of Criminal Procedure,Articles 35.16 et. Each online system is different. If you have any questions related to your juror summons or if you are unable to serve for a reason(s) other than exemptions, please call 979-849-2471 and speak to a clerk for information. You will be paid by the county in an amount not less than $6.00 and not more than $50.00 per day or fraction of a day served. It was a good system. Please write on the front or back of the summons Deceased and return to our office. Both the Constitution of the United States and the Texas Constitution guarantee the right to a trial by jury. http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER). (Supreme Court Rule of Civil Procedure 226a). "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. 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. Not surprising given the political climate in Brazoria County. Angleton, TX 77515, Design By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. While some counties choose to mail a questionnaire to prospective jurors to determine their eligibility prior to mailing the official jury summons, other counties mail the questionnaire and the jury summons together. The county may choose to provide additional forms of compensation or reimbursement, including: Your local court will provide you with information regarding the existence and extent of any of these programs. Jury service is a privilege that offers the average citizen an unequaled opportunity to influence and deliberate over fundamental matters of justice. County of Brazos 300 E 26th Street Bryan, TX 77803 Email the County of Brazos More contact info . 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. Anything considered to be a weapon or that is deemed unacceptable by the security staff will be confiscated. The summons needs to be returned indicating that the person does not live at the address. 53. If you receive a call about missing jury duty, please call the Brazoria County District Clerk's Office phone number at 979-864-1836 and the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office at 979-864-1230. My address is _____. Because you will need to consider all of the evidence admitted by the judge, it is important that you pay close attention to the evidence as it is presented at trial. Court System Type: County Constitutional Court Division: Contact Information: Phone Number: 979-864-1200 Website: http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp and the Texas Rangers for their thorough and thoughtful investigation. . These allegations about a corrupt process first surfaced in late August. Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous' By Courtney Carpenter. 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. 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. *Please call to verify. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Suite 2214. The reason she divided the cards into four categories, he said, was to ensure a representative distribution of potential jurors. Jury Duty. 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). 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. Entering the courthouse with a prohibited weapon is against the law. Texas Monthly contacted 38 current and former district court employees to try to confirm Lewiss description of Barchaks system; all either failed to respond or declined to comment. 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. 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