Jury Selection & Trial Process

Hours

The Jury Services Department accepts calls Monday and Tuesday from 1 to 4:30 pm and Wednesday through Friday from 8 am to noon and 1 to 4:30 pm. Our metro number is 940-349-2230 or 972-434-8830. Closed for lunch from noon to 1 pm. The jury report time will be listed on your jury summons.

Introduction

Did you know that a citizen’s right to a trial by jury can be traced back to both the United States Constitution and the Texas Declaration of Independence? Although the right to a jury trial is considered a fundamental safeguard of each American’s constitutional liberties, the concept of a jury trial is hardly new, dating back to medieval England.

Your jury summons puts you in the center of this most basic right of all Americans. The United States and the State of Texas Constitutions guarantee a right to trial by jury for anyone accused of a crime, regardless of his or her:

  • Economic Status
  • Gender
  • National Origin
  • Race
  • Religion

Any time the facts of a civil or criminal case are in dispute, the parties have a right to have their case heard by a jury of fair and impartial citizens who will make decisions without bias or prejudice.

To Have a Jury Trial, There Must Be a Jury

To have a jury, citizens from all walks of life must be called upon to participate. Because you have received a jury summons, you are now part of this important process. In a sense, it is an adventure. You have the opportunity to see the justice system in action, meet a wide range of people, and if you are chosen to serve on a jury, participate in one of this country’s most fundamental processes. Although appearing for jury duty may disrupt your daily routine, we ask that you participate with an open mind, patience, and an understanding of the essential role you have in our justice system.

Jury Selection Process

The process for selecting prospective jurors is mandated by state law. If you are a registered voter, have a Texas driver’s license or Texas personal identification card and you live in Denton County, your name is entered in a computer system designed to randomly select prospective jurors.

Courts

Denton County provides jurors for 26 courts within Denton County. Those courts include 11 District Courts, 9 County Courts, and 6 Justice Courts. The District Clerk prepares a random selection of names, which are retrieved at least a month prior to the service date. Those selected receive a summons which is mailed by the District Clerk /Jury Services Department

Jury Pool Names

Because the names in our jury pool are provided by two different sources there is the potential of having a jurors name on our system more than once. The Secretary of State combines the names from the voter registration list and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) list, however, their software cannot detect duplicates if there is any difference in name or address between the two sources. This makes it possible for a person to receive more than one jury summons within a short period of time. If this occurs please refer to the exemption section of your summons for "having appeared for service in the previous 36 months".

Getting Paid for Jury Service

Jurors are paid for their service. Each juror receives $20 for their first day of service. Jurors who report for service beyond the first day of jury duty will receive $60 for each day served. Payments are processed at the end of jury service, and a check is mailed to each juror within two to three weeks of their service.

Sequestered Juries

Sequestered juries are very rare. Before you are assigned to such a jury, you will have an opportunity to discuss any problems this might create with the judge.

Additional Questions / Concerns

If you still have questions about your summons or jury duty, please call the Jury Services Department at metro 940-349-2230 or 972-434-8830. We understand you have questions, and we will do everything we can to make your jury service easy and as interesting as possible. We rely on our citizens to keep our justice system running, and we thank you in advance for the very important part you play.