Downtown jury service for the Harris County District Courts is held at El Franco Lee Public Service Plaza located at 1201 Congress. Jury service is managed by the office of the Harris County District Clerk. Summonses are randomly mailed to jurors that are registered to vote in the county or those who have a Texas driver’s license or identification card with a qualifying address.
Jurors residing in Harris County can find more information about their summons through the District Clerk’s website. Before showing up for jury duty, those who have received a summon must pre-register online.
With the rise in reports of jury scams, it is important to understand the penalties for not attending jury duty. Governed by the Texas Government Code, the law states the following:
Sec. 62.0141. FAILURE TO ANSWER JURY SUMMONS. In addition to any criminal penalty prescribed by law, a person summoned for jury service who does not comply with the summons as required by law or who knowingly provides false information in a request for an exemption or to be excused from jury service is subject to a contempt action punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 442, Sec. 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1992. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1360 (S.B. 1704), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2005.
Sec. 62.111. PENALTY FOR DEFAULTING JURORS. A juror lawfully notified shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 if the juror:
(1) fails to attend court in obedience to the notice without reasonable excuse; or
(2) files a false claim of exemption from jury service.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 640 (H.B. 1665), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Photograph from the Harris County District Clerk
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Harris County District Clerk's Office does not contact individuals by phone regarding jury service. If you have received a phone call about any kind of penalty regarding jury service, please, report it to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-221-6000 and to our office at 713-755-6392 or by email at jury@hcdistrictclerk.com.