Jury Duty Information

Jury Service is your civic duty. The United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution guarantees all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to trial by an impartial jury. A juror's actions and decisions must be free of any bias or prejudice. This is the foundation of our judicial system.

The jury summons is a legal notice. If a person fails to report for jury duty, he/she will be in violation of State Law. Violation of this law is punishable by a fine of $100.00.

Exemptions

The following persons, by statute, AND NO OTHERS, may claim an exemption from jury service if the person wishes to do so:

  1. Persons over 70 years of age;
  2. Persons who have legal custody of a child under the age of 12 (twelve), and serving on the jury requires leaving the child/children without adequate supervision;
  3. Persons who are the primary caretaker of a person who is unable to care for himself/herself;
  4. All students of a Public or Private secondary school;
  5. Every person who is enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution for higher education;
  6. An officer or an employee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, or a department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the Legislative branch of the state government;
  7. He/She has served as a juror in the county during the 24-month period prior to the date he/she is required to appear for this summons (Applies only to counties with populations of at least 200,000, unless the county uses a jury plan under 62.011, Government Code, and the period authorized under Section 62.001(b) exceeds two years.)
  8. He/She has been summoned for service in a county with a population of 250,000 or more and has served as a petit juror in the county during the three-year period preceding the date he/she is required to appear for jury service.

Jury Procedures

Jurors are selected at random from the city's utility list and must be a resident of the City of West Columbia to serve. Prospective jurors will be compensated $6.00 and those chosen will be given the opportunity to decide the verdict for:

  • Citizens' complaints
  • Traffic & Class C Misdemeanor State law violations
  • City ordinance violations
  • Code enforcement violations
  • Animal Control violations

Jurors are to report to the West Columbia Council Chambers. He/She will need to:

  • Sign in at the court table
  • Take a Texas Uniform Jury Handbook to read and return
  • Be seated at a chair with the same number as assigned to each name
  • Expect to be in court for no more than one to two hours
  • After verdict has been reached, return to the court desk to receive a work excuse and payment