Jury Services

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.

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.