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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. ATTENTION JURORS: Lewis said Barchak received no training on how to randomize the cards, and that she learned the technique from other county employees. 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." What matters to him is that the law is followed, Green says. http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER). If a delay occurs while you are present for jury service, please try to be patient with the court staff. BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A grand jury declined to indict a former Brazoria County District clerk after she was accused of handpicking jurors. Lewis declined to provide the names of those employees. RELATED: Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous'. The reason she divided the cards into four categories, he said, was to ensure a representative distribution of potential jurors. Though the court or the county may provide parking or reimburse parking costs, you might have to pay them initially. Her goal was inclusion of all races and all demographics.". A juror's greatest reward is the knowledge that they have discharged this duty faithfully, honorably, and well. Bring money. 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. 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. For at least six years, the district clerk in Brazoria County used a highly unusual and possibly illegal system to assemble jury panels. Without having a very explicit statutory or court authorization for doing that, it strikes me as being legally problematic., Lewis said that Barchak began using the system around 2015, when the Texas Legislature outlawed the controversial key man method of grand jury selection, under which jury commissioners picked friends and colleagues to serve on grand juries, which determine whether there is enough evidence to file charges against someone. 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. While Barchak has remained silent since stepping down, her attorney, Chip Lewis, gave Texas Monthly an accountpublished here for the first timeof her method of selecting jurors, asserting that her only aim was to assemble a representative cross section of the countys population. I am of sound mind and good moral character. 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. 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. Brazoria County resident Linda Hagger believes her son, Brandon Williams, was wrongly convicted 11 years ago. 979-388-1836 (Brazosport) by: Magnolia832 4 OP. Be a resident of this state and a resident of the county in which you are to serve as a juror. Williams is serving life for a murder, which Hagger believes he did not commit, and thinks an improper jury played a role in his conviction. Do not seek information contained in law books, dictionaries, public or private records or elsewhere, which is not admitted in evidence. (The city, with a population of 122,000, is the conservative countys largest, accounting for one third of its population. not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for, misdemeanor theft or a felony. Now Shes Auctioning Off Her Archive. 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. Except for specially called jury panels (which are very rare) Brazoria 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. "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. You MAY claim an exemption from jury duty if you are: Brazoria County Courthouse The Brazoria County District Attorney's Office has received information that leads them to believe jury panels may have been assembled improperly. They will have the same instructions and you will understand it when they do. I am qualified to serve under the Constitution and laws to vote in this county. To serve as a juror you must meet the following qualifications: Be a citizen of Texas and a resident of Brazoria County in which you are to serve as a juror ; Be able to read and write ; Be at least 18 years . 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. We hope you find this information beneficial. 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. For more information about this topic, please refer to this website: www.BrazosCountyJury.com. Not surprising given the political climate in Brazoria County. For more information visit Brazoria County District Clerk's jury info. Receiving a summons for jury duty does not mean that you will actually serve on a jury. 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.. You then might be asked to provide new dates when you can serve. If your county participates in I-Jury Online Impaneling and you have access to the internet, you may respond to your summons online and submit any scheduling conflicts without making a trip to the courthouse. 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. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. Through service on a jury, a citizen has a direct hand in the administration of justice. "We have identified four families whose loved ones were tried by all white juries," said Quanell X. 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 . "So they would have a stack of people who were white residents of Pearland, nonwhite residents of Pearland. As a full-time student, you can be exempted from jury duty if participating in them will make you miss a significant amount of classes. Because jury duty involves some waiting, bring something to read to help you pass the time. Allen, TX Arlington, TX Arlington, TX Test . 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. Slectionnez Grer les paramtres pour grer vos prfrences. 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). En cliquant sur Accepter tout, vous acceptez que Yahoo et nos partenaires traitent vos informations personnelles et utilisent des technologies telles que les cookies pour afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss, et des fins de mesure des publicits et des contenus, dtude des audiences et de dveloppement de produit. The Texas Rangers confirmed to ABC13 that their investigation is complete. My address is _____. 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.". Selleck also announced that he requested the assistance of the Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit to help investigate the matter. I dont know why [Barchak] moved away from it., Jeff Purvis has practiced law in Brazoria County for more than two decades, first as a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney. Anything considered to be a weapon or that is deemed unacceptable by the security staff will be confiscated. The Jury Services Department coordinates the creation and service of jury panels for the District Courts, County Courts at Law, and the Justice of the Peace Courts. (Texas Gov't Code 62.0141. 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. Penalty for Defaulting Jurors.). Texas does not specify the randomization method that clerks must use, he said, so Barchaks system was fairer than simply shuffling the cards. To be qualified to serve as a juror you must: Jurors are paid for their service. 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. Do not accept from, nor give to, any of those persons any favors however slight, such as rides, food, or refreshments. You will need to check with your local courthouse regarding special amenities. All Rights Reserved. Theres a tremendous amount of liability on the part of the county.. 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. Questions & Additional Information 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. Not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or legal accusation for, a misdemeanor theft or a felony; not be on probation for a misdemeanor theft or a felony. "I kept telling my son, 'I am not stopping until I come to some kind of conclusions on who did what,'" Hagger said. Nate Moore Sr., who served as deputy district clerk for sixteen years under Barchaks predecessor, said the county had no consistent system for selecting the venires. The City of Angleton Municipal Court is located in the rear of the City Hall Municipal Building on Hwy 288B (Velasco Street). EMBED <> More Videos Occasionally, we have a juror who privately seeks out information about a case on trial. Type "postpone jury duty" and then your county. Let us know here, 23rd District Court111 E Locust, Rm 4040.0 mile away, 149th District Court111 E Locust, Rm 214A0.0 mile away, 239th District Court111 E Locust, Rm 310A0.0 mile away, 2023 Everything-Bytes | Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. Do not even discuss this case among yourselves until after you have heard all of the evidence, the court's charge, the attorneys' arguments and until I have sent you to the jury room to consider your verdict. Be of sound mind and good moral character. Occupy the property as your primary residence in the year in which you apply. However, the Commissioners Court of a county may choose to reduce or eliminate the daily compensation for prospective jurors who attend court for only one day without actually serving on a jury. Jurors may donate their pay to a number of organizations that have been approved by the Brazoria County Commissioners Court. However the law states that an employer can not terminate your employment for attending jury service. To serve as a juror, you must meet the following specific qualifications: To claim an exemption from jury service contact the court Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 979-849-2471. Both the Constitution of the United States and the Texas Constitution guarantee the right to a trial by jury. Next, Lewis said, Barchak would subdivide the two geographical piles into white and non-white jurors. Step 1: Dress inappropriate clothing: You should dress professionally and appropriately for jury duty. Because jury duty involves some waiting, bring something to read to help you pass the time. If anyone attempts to discuss the case, report it to the judge at once. Official Court proceedings are held at the City Hall Municipal Building in the Municipal Courtroom\City Council Chambers. A mother might say, my child was taken away from me, and that was illegally done by a jury. *Payment is processed at the end of jury service, and a check is mailed to each juror within three to four weeks of their service.*. General Qualifications for Jury Service. 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. While the lawyers are aware of your answers to the questionnaire that you filled out earlier, the lawyers and the judge may still ask you some of the same questions and some additional questions to ensure that you are indeed qualified to serve, and that you are indeed able to perform your civic duty in a fair and impartial manner. I just have to believe there was some purpose behind dividing the jurors between Pearland and the rest of the county. My question is, why did it have to be so complicated? he said. 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. Jury lists are created using names randomly selected from our water utility listing. Prospective jurors in the state of Texas who are over 70 years of age may claim excusal from jury service, or request a permanent age 70 exemption from any further summons or service. "There are cases, I believe, will have to be overturned because of purposed racial bias, on purpose, against those defendants.". 111 E. Locust St. Do not tell other jurors your own personal experiences nor those of other persons, nor relate any special information. 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. The DA's office has received information that leads them to believe jury panels may have been assembled improperly. There are no transportation exemptions. 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.". Both you and other prospective jurors who report for jury service will be given an opportunity to voluntarily donate your juror pay to certain local or state charitable causes. County of Brazos 300 E 26th Street Bryan, TX 77803 Email the County of Brazos More contact info . seq.). Code of Criminal Procedure,Articles 35.16 et. Please write on the front or back of the summons Active duty military and return to our office. Listen for the judge to give you instructions about when to come forward to discuss your need to be excused based on some hardship. Citing the Texas Rangers ongoing investigation, which is expected to wrap up by the end of this month, Selleck would not comment further about what Barchak did with those four piles of cards, or about any other details of the case. Barchaks methods were widely known to county officials, Lewis said. 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. The judge may give you an opportunity to discuss any individual personal hardships that jury service may cause to you. Though the court or the county may provide parking or reimburse parking costs, you might have to pay them initially. Be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in this county in which you are to serve as a juror. 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. Search Courts. (Applies only to counties with a population of at least 200,000 unless the county uses a jury plan under 62.011, Gov't Code, and the period authorized under 62.011(b) exceeds two years. As a result, you need to follow all of the jury instructions given by the judge throughout the case very carefully. Leave them blank to get signed up. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Among the district clerk candidates in next years election is Barchaks former chief deputy, Republican Cayla Meyers, who recently resigned. Refer to this website: www.BrazosCountyJury.com laws to vote in this county the rest of the county,! 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