- Home
- Government
- Offices & Departments
- Jury Services
Jury Services
* Starting March 6 you will need to report to the Central Jury for your jury duty. Zoom will expire March 2, 2023. *
Please respond to your summons online before appearing in person to expedite the check in process.
Jury Duty is Civic Duty
The United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution guarantee all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to trial by an impartial jury. Justice ultimately depends to a large measure upon the quality of the jurors who serve on our courts. It is one of the most important civic duties a citizen can perform, and this site is intended to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.
The Jury Services website is intended to inform potential jurors what is expected of them as a potential juror, what is involved in jury duty, what they can expect should they be selected, and how to prepare for jury duty. Jurors are selected at random from a list of Bexar County voter registrations and driver registrations. As a juror, you must be fair and impartial. Your actions and decisions must be free of any bias or prejudice. Your actions and decisions are the foundation of our judicial system.
Any person charged with a criminal offense or any party to a civil case has a right to a jury trial. All parties are equal before the law and each is entitled to the same fair treatment.
Location
Jury duty is located in the basement of the Justice Center, across the hall from the cafeteria. You may enter the building through the Justice Center on Dolorosa or the Paul Elizondo Tower on Nueva St. (closest to the parking garage). Both entrances are ADA accessible.
300 Dolorosa Street
San Antonio, TX 78205
Get Directions
Security
For security purposes, all persons entering the courthouse or Justice Center must pass through metal detectors, and may be subject to a personal search. No pocket knives, wallet chains, knitting needles, embroidery needles, etc., will be permitted onto the premises. If you are uncertain if a particular item would be okay to bring, please call 210-335-2667 before arriving.
Transportation
Validated Parking: Limited parking is available for jurors at the Bexar County garage at 211 S. Flores. Parking is $3 with validation between 8 am - 5 pm from the Central Jury. When using the kiosk, press the "Help Feature" on the paying kiosk to notify the parking attendant for assistance. For all jurors with a validation, make sure to confirm screen reads $3.00, not $5.00 when paying. Bexar County will not reimburse for human error when scanning tickets. If still having issues at the kiosk, you can always pay by card or cash at the exit.
Non-Validated Parking: Private lots will not be validated. If you find other parking garages or surface parking lots, please understand these will not be validated or reimbursed.
Public Transportation: It is strongly recommended for jurors consider taking the bus to the Courthouse. To find bus schedules or Park and Rides, visit https://www.viainfo.net/.
Why I was selected
Jurors are selected at random from a list of Bexar County voter registrations and driver registrations. As a juror, you must be fair and impartial. Your actions and decisions must be free of any bias or prejudice. Your actions and decisions are the foundation of our judicial system.
Any person charged with a criminal offense or any party to a civil case has a right to a jury trial. All parties are equal before the law and each is entitled to the same fair treatment.
Do I Qualify?
To serve as a juror you must meet qualifications. A qualified juror:
- Is at least 18 years of age;
- Is a citizen of Texas and a resident of Bexar County;
- Is qualified under the constitution and laws to vote in Bexar County (Note: you do not have to be registered to vote.);
- Is of sound mind and good moral character;
- Is able to read and write English;
- Has not served as a juror for six (6) days during the preceding three (3) months in the county court or during the preceding six (6) months in the district court;
- Has not been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a felony; and
- Is not under indictment or other legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or a felony.
(Ch. 480, Sec. 62.102 Government Code And Article 35.16 Code of Criminal Procedure)
Jury Duty Exemptions
You are not required to claim an exemption. An exemption may be requested if the juror:
- Is over 70 years of age;
- Has legal custody of a child or children younger than 12 years of age and serving on the jury requires leaving the child or children without adequate supervision;
- Is a student of a public or private high school (must provide proof);
- Is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education (must provide proof);
- Is an officer or an employee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, or any department in the legislative branch of the state government (statement must be notarized);
- Is the primary caretaker of a person who is an invalid, unable to care for themself (This exemption does not apply to health care workers.);
- Has served as a juror in the district courts or county courts of Bexar County within the last 36 months; or
- Is a member of the United States 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.
To claim an exemption you must complete the form on the jury summons, sign it, and return the form in person or by mail to the following address:
Central Jury Bailifff
Bexar County Justice Center
300 Dolorosa / Basement
San Antonio, TX 78205-3006
Note: Claiming a disqualification based on the lack of citizenship or lack of residence in the county may affect your eligibility to vote in Bexar County.
Parking
We highly recommend using the Bexar County Parking Garage (near the Paul Elizondo Tower). On your first day, bring your parking ticket from the Bexar County Parking Garage to validate your parking for a $3.00 charge. Validation only applies to the first day of jury duty, thereafter, standard rates apply. Every floor adheres to ADA standards and elevators are available for use in the garage.
Garage Location
VIA Bus/Park & Ride
On your first day, receive FREE VIA Bus services by presenting the top portion of your Jury Summons letter to your bus driver. VIA offers several Park & Ride locations throughout Bexar County. You can find more information at http://www.viainfo.net/
Please Note: Plan accordingly with the bus schedules to arrive on-time!
Right to Reemployment:
A private employer may not terminate the employment of a permanent employee because the employee serves as a juror. An employee whose employment is terminated in violation of this section is entitled to return to the same employment that the employee held when summoned for jury service if the employee, as soon as practical after release from jury service, gives the employer actual notice that the employee intends to return. (Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code, Chapter 122)
Note: An employer is not required to pay an employee while on jury duty.
Class B Misdemeanor:
It is a Class B Misdemeanor for a private employer to terminate the employment of a permanent employee because the employee serves as a juror. Additionally, a court may hold an employer in contempt of court if the employer terminates, threatens to terminate, penalizes, or threatens to penalize an employee because the employee performs jury duty.
A person who is injured because of a violation of Chapter 122 of the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code is entitled to reinstatement to his former position and to damages not less than an amount equal to one year's compensation nor more than an amount equal to five years' compensation at the rate at which the person was compensated when summoned for jury service.
Payment
Jurors will receive reimbursement. Checks are mailed to the address on the jury summons approximately two (2) weeks after the juror is released from jury service. Reimbursement depends on the court where a juror serves.
- Municipal Court: Jurors will be reimbursed $6.00 for every day or a fraction of each day served.
- District Courts:
- Sec. 61.001. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES OF JURORS AND PROSPECTIVE JURORS.
A person who reports for jury service in response to the process of a court is entitled to receive as reimbursement for travel and other expenses an amount:
(1) not less than $6 for the first day or fraction of the first day the person is in attendance in court in response to the process and discharges the person's duty for that day; (2) not less than $40 for the second day and thereafter - Sec. 61.0011. DEFINITION OF PERSON WHO REPORTS FOR JURY SERVICE.
The term "person who reports for jury service" means a person who reports in person for duty on a grand jury or a petit jury, regardless of whether the person is selected to serve on the jury.
- Sec. 61.001. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES OF JURORS AND PROSPECTIVE JURORS.
On behalf of the Judges and the Central Jury, we want to thank you for your service.
Donating payment
Pursuant to Texas Government Code§ 61.003, you have the option of donating all or a fraction of your juror reimbursement to the charitable programs listed. If you wish to donate all or a fraction of your reimbursement, please view the juror donation form (PDF) and fill out the amount of your donation. This contribution is strictly voluntary.
Donation Agencies
- Bexar County Child Welfare Board serves abused and neglected children by providing cribs to protect babies from child death.
- Bexar County Veterans Treatment Court provides Justice-Involved Veterans with treatment in lieu of incarceration and affords them a second chance to become productive citizens.
- Crime Victims Compensation Fund, which is administered by the Office of the Attorney General for compensation to victims of violent crime. Victims are provided financial assistance for crime-related expenses that cannot be reimbursed by insurance or other sources.
- Bexar County Family Center Foundation provides services and resources necessary to assist victims of domestic violence and their families in one centralized location.
Failure to Answer Summons and Penalties:
A person who fails to comply with a summons is subject to a contempt action punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 (Government Code, Section 62.0141). Additionally, a person shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $100 if the person:
- Fails to attend court in obedience to the notice without reasonable excuse.
- Files a false claim of exemption from jury service. (Government Code 62.111)
-
Physical Address
300 Dolorosa
San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-335-2667