You do not need any special skills or legal knowledge to be a juror! As a result of her idiosyncratic system, thousands of verdicts could potentially be overturned, and the county could face an avalanche of lawsuits claiming wrongful convictions. "I kept telling my son, 'I am not stopping until I come to some kind of conclusions on who did what,'" Hagger said. "If it was something where these were truly, not-randomly-drawn perspective jurors, that could mean that every single jury that was put together, every panel for every defendant or plaintiff, whoever it may be, under the watch of this district clerk when it was done improperly, would probably, almost assuredly, would be entitled to a new trial," explained Steve Shellist, ABC13's legal analyst. It is also one of the most politically moderate parts of the county.). These allegations about a corrupt process first surfaced in late August. Please note: 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. (Texas Gov't Code 62.0141. With your cooperation and attention to detail, the jury selection process may run smoother and be completed faster. As a defense lawyer, I dont want twelve people from Pearland judging my guy from Freeport. Most Lake Jackson cases are concluded the same day. Gabriel Garcia Brazos County District Clerk 300 E. 26th Street, Suite 1200 Code 62.101. Anything considered to be a weapon or that is deemed unacceptable by the security staff will be confiscated. Texas does not specify the randomization method that clerks must use, he said, so Barchaks system was fairer than simply shuffling the cards. For more information visit Brazoria County District Clerk's jury info. 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. *county-courthouse.com is not affiliated with the Official US Government, or any state, local, or federal office. My date of birth is _____. Figuring out what to do when you have been summoned for jury duty can be confusing and frustrating. ", RELATED: FBI joins investigation into Brazoria County selection case, activist says, Barchak's attorney sent a statement to ABC13 which read, "We would like to thank the Brazoria County D.A. 3. You might also bring a light sweater or jacket in case the temperature in the courthouse is somewhat cold. Angleton, TX 77515, Design By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. 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. Meyers attorney, Dan Cogdell, wouldnt describe the system, but said it involved an attempt to ensure a more diverse venire. My question is, why did it have to be so complicated? he said. To be qualified to serve as a juror you must: Jurors are paid for their service. To ensure the safety of everyone at the courthouse, expect to be screened through a metal detector and X-ray unit. Though the court or the county may provide parking or reimburse parking costs, you might have to pay them initially. 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. The process that she seems to have invented on her own was clearly not random. 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. 500, Angleton, TX 77515. The law says that all individuals are competent jurors unless specifically disqualified. seq.). 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. That is, by definition, not random., In late August the Commissioners Court appointed former municipal judge Donna Starkey as interim district clerk. 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. Bring on the Shiplap? Occasionally, we have a juror who privately seeks out information about a case on trial. If you have questions about your jury summons or jury duty, please contact the appropriate court or judge as indicated on the jury summons. You are not required to claim an exemption from jury service. If you are unfamiliar with the courthouse and its surroundings you should carefully review the instructions that are included with summonses. YES! 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. As a result, you need to follow all of the jury instructions given by the judge throughout the case very carefully. Investigation underway into jury assembly process in Brazoria County. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. A prospective juror must be released entirely or rescheduled if the juror is required to appear in court on a religious holy day that is observed by the juror. Yes, you may take care of this matter by indicating on the back of the summons that they are enrolled in college and just sign your name as a parent and return to Jury Services. ); Have been summoned for service in a county with a population of at least 250,000 and you have served as a petit juror in the county during the three year period preceding the date you are to appear for jury service. Get Out of Jury Duty for Not Being Qualified. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. 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. Note that jurors and others can be called upon to testify in open court about acts of jury misconduct. The summons needs to be returned indicating that the person does not live at the address. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Complete Jury Orientation: Jury orientation is mandatory for all jurors prior to reporting for jury service. According to the Brazoria County website, the clerk in question was elected in 2010. Also, you may need money to pay for snacks, lunch, or pay phones. The district clerks of nearby Wharton, Montgomery, and Matagorda counties said they had never heard of anyone using Barchaks method. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. 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. 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. Listen carefully and follow the instructions given by court personnel and the judge. At no point did they sort jurors by race or geographic region, he said. 111 E. Locust, Suite 500 Jury Duty. RELATED: Brazoria County District Clerk's Office under investigation over 'irregularities' in jury process, "They would sort them into four separate piles," Bauman said. 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." Her attorney says the method was harmless, but the Texas Rangers are investigating. You will need to be fair, impartial, and be willing to make decisions that are not based on your personal feelings and biases. Houston Chronicle Reporter Anna Bauman read the report and explains how Barchak may have violated Texas law which states jury selection must be random. 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. Your attire should show respect for the court. Visit our Links Page for websites providing Employment Listings, as well as US Government holiday closings. Slectionnez Grer les paramtres pour grer vos prfrences. Court System Type: County Constitutional Court Division: Contact Information: Phone Number: 979-864-1200 Website: http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Elected Officials - County, State and Federal, American Rescue Plan Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Brazoria County Hurricane Preparedness Expo, Brazoria County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Hurricane Harvey Substantial Damage Information, NOTICE to ALL CRIMINAL & JUVENILE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, Stephen F. Austin-Munson Historical County Park, Vendor Permits and Mass Gathering Information, Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Information, Brazoria County Independent School Districts, Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District, Brazoria County Awarded Certificate of Achievement, TxDOT Long Term Closures for Bridge Replacements, DSHS recalls oysters harvested in area of southeastern Galveston Bay. Read full article. Brazoria County district clerk Rhonda Barchak sorted jurors by race and geography. The Brazoria County Courthouseis open on M-F from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. Official Court proceedings are held at the City Hall Municipal Building in the Municipal Courtroom\City Council Chambers. "There are cases, I believe, will have to be overturned because of purposed racial bias, on purpose, against those defendants.". EMBED <> More Videos Although the courts make every effort to avoid delays, they sometimes will occur. (979) 864-1836. Each juror receives ten dollars ($10) for the first day of appearance and forty dollars ($40) for the second and any subsequent days of appearance. Website: http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp, Staff: Senior Administrator - Alice Logsdon. I have not been convicted of theft or any felony. Theres a tremendous amount of liability on the part of the county.. 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. Citizens over the age of 70 can be exempt from jury service under this age exception.. The length of time a case may be in trial varies with each case. 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. 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. Starkey and Meyers declined to speak about Barchaks system. by: Magnolia832 4 OP. Bring money. Judicial Committee on Information Technology, Task Force on Judicial Emergency Preparedness, Texas Commission to Expand Civil Legal Services, Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission, Guardianship Abuse, Fraud and Exploitation Deterrence Program (GAFEDP), Pretrial Risk Assessment Information System for Texas, Texas Records and Information Locator (TRAIL). Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. Unfortunately there are no business/self-employment exemptions administered by the state legislature at this time. "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. Citizens on the list are randomly selected and mailed a summons to report for jury service. 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.. Do not make personal inspections, observations, investigations, or experiments nor personally view premises, things or articles not produced in court. We hope you find this information beneficial. Local judges may restrict certain attire, such as shorts, cutoff, sleeveless shirts, sandals, and hats. 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. HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002. (This does not apply if the jury wheel has been reconstituted since your service as a petit juror. -See JURY SERVICE - Tex. BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A grand jury declined to indict a former Brazoria County District clerk after she was accused of handpicking jurors. Rest assured that there is usually a valid reason for any delays and the judge is aware that you are waiting. 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. Brazoria County resident Linda Hagger believes her son, Brandon Williams, was wrongly convicted 11 years ago.
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