Texas Government Code 62.0144 – Postponement of Jury Service in Certain Counties
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(a) This section applies only to a county:
(1) with a population of 1.4 million or more; and
(2) that has within its boundaries at least two municipalities that each have a population of 300,000 or more.
(b) A person summoned for jury service may request a postponement of the person’s initial appearance for jury service. The person may request the postponement by contacting the clerk of the court, or the court’s designee, in person, in writing, or by telephone before the date on which the person is summoned to appear.
Terms Used In Texas Government Code 62.0144
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by writing, printing, or other means. See Texas Government Code 312.011
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Population: means the population shown by the most recent federal decennial census. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) On receipt of a request under Subsection (b), the clerk of the court or the court’s designee shall grant the person a postponement if:
(1) the person has not been granted a postponement in that county since the date on which the jury wheel from which the person was selected to appear was most recently reconstituted; and
(2) the person and the clerk or the court’s designee determine a substitute date on which the person will appear for jury service that is not later than six months after the date on which the person was originally summoned to appear.
(d) A person who receives a postponement under Subsection (c) may request subsequent postponements in the manner described by Subsection (b). The clerk of the court or the court’s designee may approve a subsequent postponement if the clerk or the court’s designee determines that the person has a legitimate reason for requesting the postponement. Before the clerk or the court’s designee may grant the subsequent postponement, the person and the clerk or the court’s designee must determine a substitute date on which the person will appear for jury service that is not later than six months after the date on which the person was to appear after the later of:
(1) the postponement under Subsection (c); or
(2) the most recent postponement granted under this subsection.