Grand Jury Service Excusal Reasons
Disqualifications for Grand Jurors
To be qualified to serve as a grand 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 grand 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 been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a felony.
- Not be under indictment or other legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or a felony.
- Not be related within the third degree by consanguinity or second degree by affinity to any person selected to serve or serving on the same grand jury.
- Not have served as a grand juror in the year before the date on which the term of court for which the person has been selected as a grand juror begins.
- Not be a complainant in any matter to be heard by the grand jury during the term of court for which the person has been selected as a grand juror.
* 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 Grand Jurors
- You are over 70 years of age.
- You are a person responsible for the care of a child younger than 18 years of age.
- You are a student of a public or private high school.
- You are enrolled and attend college.
* 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. **