There are parents out there who had their rights terminated, Purvis said. 4 below. 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. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. 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. ), (Texas Gov't Code 62.111. That right has long been considered a fundamental safeguard of each American's civil liberties. 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. Rhonda Barchak was the Brazoria County District Clerk for 11 years. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. . Allen, TX Arlington, TX Arlington, TX Test . Barchak, who resigned in late August after having held the post since 2010, divided up jurors by geographical region, and then by race, to assemble panels for criminal, civil, and family-law trials. Angleton, TX 77515-4678, Brazoria County Courthouse You will be asked to return the completed questionnaire to the court by mail, or to bring the completed questionnaire with you when you report for jury service. 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. Investigation underway into jury assembly process in Brazoria County. 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. A venire evenly divided between white and non-white residents would have meant underrepresentation of people of color on juries. This discussion has been locked. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Fx: (979) 361-4215 Jury registration is a simple process that can be completed: Online through the My Jury Duty Portal found here; On the telephone by calling (213) 972-0970 and selecting the "Registration" option from the menu. *Not location specific. Exemption from Jury Service). - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. The reason she divided the cards into four categories, he said, was to ensure a representative distribution of potential jurors. You are not required to claim an exemption from jury service. 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. Brazoria County District Clerk's Office under investigation over 'irregularities' in jury process, FBI joins investigation into Brazoria County selection case, activist says, Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous', Families want feds to look into Brazoria Co. jury process: 'The truth is always going to come out'. Although the courts make every effort to avoid delays, they sometimes will occur. The process begins as groups of prospective jurors, usually numbering fifty to sixty in district courts, are assembled in a courtroom with the judge, the lawyers, and usually the parties of a particular case. 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. This exemption is available to those homeowners who are 65 years of age or older. The district attorney considers the case closed, but it may not be over. At this time the only type of employment that may claim an exemption from jury duty is exemption No. You can, however, claim payment if your earnings are in any way affected by your participation. Be of sound mind and good moral character. I just have to believe there was some purpose behind dividing the jurors between Pearland and the rest of the county. Before choosing to reschedule your service please understand that you are limited to just ONE change so please be sure that you choose your new appearance date carefully. Figuring out what to do when you have been summoned for jury duty can be confusing and frustrating. However, you may choose to be excused if you: (Texas Government Code 62.106. To tell the other jurors any of this information is a violation of these instructions. However, you will probably be asked for a juror index number (or other number provided on the summons) and the service date (also on your summons). The Rangers report, made public in January, stated that Barchak confessed to 239th District Judge Patrick Sebesta that she separated jury cards into four categories: "Pearland white, Pearland non-white, non Pearland white, and non Pearland.". You MAY claim an exemption from jury duty if you are: Brazoria County Courthouse Take advantage of any free parking offered to prospective jurors. Wear shoes that are suitable for the court. But the Legislature did not alter the system for selecting regular trial juries, and it remains unclear why Barchak would have changed her method at that time. At no point did they sort jurors by race or geographic region, he said. If you are unfamiliar with the courthouse and its surroundings you should carefully review the instructions that are included with summonses. To be qualified to serve as a juror you must: *Note that the completion of deferred adjudication is not a disqualifying "conviction". She now had four stacks of cards: Pearland whites, Pearland non-whites, non-Pearland whites, and non-Pearland non-whites. Bring on the Shiplap? The judge will instruct you to adhere to the following basic rules: At the conclusion of all the evidence, the judge may give you a written charge that asks you some specific questions. General Qualifications for Jury Service. Your attire should show respect for the court. You will need to be fair, impartial, and be willing to make decisions that are not based on your personal feelings and biases. The easiest way to get out of jury duty is by not being qualified in the first place. Court System Type: County Constitutional Court Division: Contact Information: Phone Number: 979-864-1200 Website: http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp (This does not apply if the jury wheel has been reconstituted since your service as a petit juror. The length of jury service will vary considerably for summoned jurors. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. Read full article. 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. The Brazoria County Courthouseis open on M-F from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. August 27, 2021, 9:30 PM. page at bit.ly/33kzxFb. 111 E Locust, Rm 102A, Angleton, TX77515-4678 A juror who is lawfully notified to attend court is subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 if that juror either: fails to attend court in obedience to the notice without a reasonable excuse; or. I am not under indictment or other legal accusation of a misdemeanor theft, felony theft or any other felony charge. Starkey and Meyers declined to speak about Barchaks system. Also, you might want to avoid parking in metered parking spaces because you do not know how long you will be in jury service. (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. Suite 2214. 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. Jurors may donate their pay to a number of organizations that have been approved by the Brazoria County Commissioners Court. You are a member of the United States Military Forces serving on active duty and deployed to a location away from your home station and out of your county of residence. 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. Her goal was inclusion of all races and all demographics.". Municipal Court Office will be closed Thursday, March 02, 2023, in observance of Texas Independence Day. The acting district attorney for Brazoria County confirmed that his office did present findings to a grand jury today, and should conclude Thursday. YES! Be aware that you will likely be asked to shut off pagers and cellular phones before entering the jury room or courtroom. As a juror, you are in a position of responsibility. For updates on this story, follow Tom Abrahams on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. However, your employer cannot fire you while you are fulfilling your civic duty. Jury duty is a civic responsibility that you do not get paid to attend. Step 1: Dress inappropriate clothing: You should dress professionally and appropriately for jury duty. Because you may serve on a jury the first day you report to serve, you should wear clothing reasonably befitting the dignity and solemnity of the court proceedings. Each online system is different. not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for, misdemeanor theft or a felony. You Already Served. 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. 281-756-1836 (North County), District Clerk, Jury Services Listen for the judge to give you instructions about when to come forward to discuss your need to be excused based on some hardship. Selleck, the district attorney, confirmed for the first time on Friday that Barchack sorted juror cards into the four categories Lewis described. ); Are the primary caretaker of a person who is unable to care for himself or herself (This exemption does not apply to health care workers. Brazoria County resident Linda Hagger believes her son, Brandon Williams, was wrongly convicted 11 years ago. It was a good system. Unfortunately there are no business/self-employment exemptions administered by the state legislature at this time. Also, try to keep an open mind about your jury service and remember that you are playing an essential role in our justice system. Also, you may need money to pay for snacks, lunch, or pay phones. ", 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. 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. files a false claim of exemption from jury service. 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. **Jury Trial has been canceled for Thursday, September 15, 2022. 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. We hope you find this information beneficial. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. "We have identified four families whose loved ones were tried by all white juries," said Quanell X. Failure to Answer Jury Summons. What matters to him is that the law is followed, Green says. Do not consider, discuss, nor speculate whether or not any party is or is not protected in whole or in part by insurance of any kind. The length of time a case may be in trial varies with each case. 3. -See JURY SERVICE - Tex. and the Texas Rangers for their thorough and thoughtful investigation. According to Lewis, a defense attorney who has represented such high-profile clients as Enron chief executive Ken Lay, convicted murderer Robert Durst, and Mexican drug kingpin Osiel Crdenas Guilln, Barchak would take the full stack of around 200 to 250 juror cards into a back room, where she and other county employees would first sort them into two piles: Pearland residents and non-Pearland residents. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en consultant vos paramtres de vie prive. Friday, October 8, 2021. Texas has a statutory exemption that allows individuals over a certain age to request exemption from jury duty. *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.*. Not surprising given the political climate in Brazoria County. Lewis said Barchak received no training on how to randomize the cards, and that she learned the technique from other county employees. The grand jury's decision not to . 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. The district clerks of nearby Wharton, Montgomery, and Matagorda counties said they had never heard of anyone using Barchaks method. Bryan, TX 77803. It is also one of the most politically moderate parts of the county.). I am a citizen of the state of Texas and a resident of Brazoria County. You need to contact the judge or the court to be exempted on this basis. Solicitation Opportunities With Brazos County, National/State Veteran Cemetery Locations, Request Brazos County Birth, Death, and/or Marriage Certificate. Under state law, jurors are supposed to be selected at random from the pool of those whove been called to jury duty. 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. Please note: EMBED <> More Videos 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. Because you will need to consider all of the evidence admitted by the judge, it is important that you pay close attention to the evidence as it is presented at trial. 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. Though the court or the county may provide parking or reimburse parking costs, you might have to pay them initially. Civil rights activists, who have protested several times in front of the Brazoria County courthouse, allege that Barchak was rigging juries to put non-white defendants at a disadvantage. I believe thats generally the case, he said. Sometimes the cards were shuffled, and sometimes they were organized according to the order in which the jurors arrived for duty. ); 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. 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). With your cooperation and attention to detail, the jury selection process may run smoother and be completed faster. http://www.brazoria-county.com/directory.asp, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER). 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. Ph: (979) 361-4224. 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. The court has the discretion to hear any reasonable sworn excuse of a prospective juror and either release the juror from jury service or reschedule the juror's jury service for another day. She left the job after law enforcement began investigating the possibility that she wrongly empaneled jury pools. 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. As in all Texas counties, eligible Brazoria residents are summoned to jury duty at random, based on an electronic list provided by the Texas Secretary of State. Approved by the state of Texas and a resident of Brazoria County resident Hagger. 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