Petit Jury Service Excusal Reasons

Disqualifications for Petit Jurors

To be qualified to serve as a petit juror you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Be a citizen of the United States. (Ser ciudadano de Los Estados Unidos.)
  • Be a resident of this state and a resident of the county in which you are to serve as a juror.
  • Be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in the county in which you are to serve as a juror. (Note: You do not have to be registered to vote to be qualified to vote.)
  • Be of sound mind and good moral character.
  • Be able to read and write.
  • 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.
  • Not have ever been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a felony.
  • Not be under indictment or other legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or a felony.

* If you do not meet all of the qualifications, you MUST claim that you are disqualified. If you claim to be disqualified because you are not a resident of this county, you may become ineligible to vote in this county. If you state that you are not a U.S Citizen, you may no longer be eligible to vote if you fail to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship to your county voter registrar.

Statutory Exemptions for Petit Jurors

  • You are over 75 years of age.
  • You are over 75 years of age and claim a permanent exemption.
  • You have legal custody of a child or children younger than 12 years of age and service on the jury would require leaving the child or children without adequate supervision.
  • You are a student of a public or private high school.
  • You are enrolled and attend college.
  • You are an officer or employee of the senate, the house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office or other agency in the legislative branch of state government.
  • You are the primary caretaker of a person who is an invalid unable to care for himself or herself. (This exemption does not apply to health care workers.)
  • You have been summoned for jury service in this county and you have served as a petit juror in the county during the three-year period prior to the date you are required to appear by this document.
  • 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.

* You do not have to claim an exemption and may instead choose to serve.

Medical Exemptions

Affidavit for Exemption from Jury Duty for Physical or Mental Impairment [PDF]

  • Fill in the form.
  • Write your Juror ID on the top right-hand corner of the form.
  • Sign the form.
  • Have the form notarized.
  • ALL MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS MUST INCLUDE A LETTER OR STATEMENT FROM YOUR DOCTOR STATING WHY YOU ARE UNABLE TO SERVE AS A JUROR.
  • Return both the medical affidavit AND the doctor's statement via
                Fax:                  (281) 238-3337 
                E-Mail:           jurydept@fbctx.gov 
                Mail:                District Clerk
                                           Attn: Jury Department 
                                           301 Jackson Street
                                           Richmond, Texas 77469
                In Person:      1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Room 31004
                                           Richmond Texas 77469

Inability To Comprehend English

Affidavit for Exemption from Jury Duty for Inability to Comprehend English [PDF]

  • The form must be translated and filled out by someone who understands and writes in the English language.
  • The translator must fill in the form.
  • Write your Juror ID on the top right-hand corner of the form.
  • The translator must sign and print their name on the form.
  • The form must be notarized.
  • Return the language affidavit via 
                Fax:                  (281) 238-3337 
                E-Mail:            jurydept@fbctx.gov 
                Mail:                 District Clerk
                                           Attn: Jury Department 
                                           301 Jackson Street
                                           Richmond, Texas 77469
                In Person:      1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Room 31004
                                           Richmond Texas 77469

Do you have any questions? Call 281-344-3900 or email jurydept@fbctx.gov

** Please provide us your Juror ID when responding by e-mail. **