Jury Service

The United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution guarantee all people the right to trial by an impartial jury of their peers, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin or economic status.

As a juror, you must be fair and impartial. Your actions and decisions must also be free of any bias or prejudice because your actions and decisions are the foundation of our judicial system.

You were selected at random from the "City Water Rolls", a list of residents using water supplied by the City of Willis.

Requirements

Jurors must be:

• A citizen of the United States
• A resident of the City of Willis
• At least 18 years of age
• Able to read and write the English language
• Of sound mind

Ineligibility

You cannot serve on a jury if you:

• Have been convicted of a felony or of any type of theft offense (unless your rights have been restored)
• Are now on probation or deferred adjudication for a felony or for any type of theft
• Are now under indictment for a felony or are now under criminal charges for any type of theft

If you are in doubt or think you may not be qualified to serve on a jury for one of the above or any other reasons, please notify the Judge.

Being Excused as a Juror

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

• Are over 70 years of age
• Aave legal custody of a child under 10 years of age and jury service would leave the child unsupervised
• Are a student in a class
• Are the caretaker of a person who is unable to care for themselves (an invalid)
• Aan show a physical or mental impairment or an inability to comprehend or to communicate in English

Failing to Respond to a Summons

There is a penalty for jurors failing to respond to a summons. A juror may be fined up to $100 if they:

• Fail to attend court in disobedience to the notice without reasonable excuse
• File a false claim of exemption from jury service