Jury Information

Reporting Instructions:

  • Prior to Arrival -- Complete the Jury Questionnaire online, which includes questions regarding any Disqualifications, Exemptions.
  • Bring your summons postcard with you and report in person, at the time and date on your summons.
  • Arrive early to allow for necessary check-in processes.
  • Please dress appropriately for court.  No shorts, sleeveless shirts, hats, flip-flops.

Jury Frequently Asked Questions

  • Jurors must:

    • Be a citizen of the United States 
    • Be a citizen of Texas and a residence of Wood County;
    • Be qualified under the constitution and laws to vote in Wood County;
    • Be at least 18 years of age;
    • Be able to read and write;
    • Be of sound mind and good moral character.

    You cannot serve on a jury if:

    • You have served on a petit jury for 6 days or more during the preceding 3 months in a County Court or 6 months in a District Court;
    • You have been convicted of a theft or any felony;
    • You are under indictment or other legal accusation of a misdemeanor theft, felony theft, or any other felony charge.
      (If you claim disqualification under number 2 or 3 claiming lack of citizenship or lack of residence in the county you may lose your eligibility to vote.)

    Business reasons are NOT lawful excuses.

    If you have any questions or concerns about being qualified to serve on a jury for one of the above or any other reason, please notify the judge when you appear for jury service.

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  • If you have a medical condition which would make it impossible or very difficult to serve as a juror, you may request an exemption by completing a Medical Exemption Affidavit (which includes the mandatory Physicians Statement for Medical Exemption) and returning it to the District Clerk. Your completed request will be submitted to a judge. - See Gov't Code 62.109. 

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  • You are entitled to be excused as a juror if you:

    • Are over 75 years of age;
    • Have legal custody of a child under 12 years of age and jury service would leave the child unsupervised;
    • Are a student of a public or private secondary school;
    • Are enrolled and attending an institution of higher education (College);
    • Are the caretaker of a person who is unable to care for themselves (an invalid); 
    • is 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 a member of the U. S. Military Forces serving on active duty and deployed to a location away from the person's home station and out of the person's county of residence.

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  • YES!

    Wood County allows every juror ONE postponement for any reason at all in order for everyone to have the opportunity to pick a date better suited for their individual schedule.

    Before choosing to reschedule your jury service please understand that you are limited to just ONE change so please be sure that you choose your new appearance date carefully.

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  • Jurors are paid for their service

    Each juror receives ten dollars ($20) for the first day of appearance and forty dollars ($58) for the second and any subsequent days of required appearance for jury service.  

    Jurors may donate their pay to a number of organizations that have been approved by the Wood County Commissioners Court and fall within the guidelines of the Texas Government Code.  

    Total juror donations disbursed to those local charitable organizations averages approximately $40,000 annually. *Payment is processed at the end of jury service, and a check is mailed to each juror within two to three weeks after their service is complete.* 

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  • Unfortunately your employer is not currently required by Texas State law to pay you while you are serving jury duty. However, the law states that an employer cannot terminate your employment for attending jury service.

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  • Unfortunately there are no business/self-employment exemptions administered by the state legislature at this time.

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  • Approximately 75% of prospective jurors are selected for trials.  If you are not selected to sit as a juror on a case, you can expect to be released for the week.  If you are selected, you will served for one trial.  Surprisingly, the average trial only lasts 1 to 3 days.

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  • Yes, your son or daughter may take care of this matter by responding online at the website listed on the back of their summons to claim their exemption that they are enrolled in college.  

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  • Please write on the front or back of the summons "Deceased" and mail or deliver it to the Office of the Wood County District Clerk:

     

    Attn: Jury Responses
    Wood County District Clerk
    P.O. Box 1707
    Quitman, TX 75783

    We will then forward this information to the Wood County Elections Department.

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  • The summons needs to be returned indicating that the person does not live at the address. 

    • "Please return to sender, this person does not live at the address."

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  • The summoned party will need to complete their questionnaire online at the website listed on the back of their jury summons to claim their exemption.

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  • There are no transportation exemptions.

    If you have not been rescheduled before, then you may request a postponement in order to make better arrangements to appear.  

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  • Yes. If your name and address are not exactly the same on your Voter Registration record and Driver's License, you may be in the system more than once. This may be remedied by changing your Voter Registration record to agree with your Driver's License. You must contact the Wood County Voter Registration office in order to change your record.

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  • You were selected at random from a record of names compiled by the Secretary of State and provided to Wood County. That record consists of Wood County registered voters and names provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

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  • You will be required to pass through security immediately upon entering the Courthouse. 
    You will not be allowed to bring into the building any type of weapons, including pocket knives.
    Please leave anything that you think might not be allowed in your vehicle or at home.

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  • Free parking is available all around the building and to the North of People's Telephone.

    Do NOT park in designated parking, such as "Customer Only" or "Reserved Parking."

    *If you are parked illegally or in the above mentioned restricted zones, your vehicle will be towed and you will be responsible for the towing and impound charges or fees.

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