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Municipal Courts

Jury Service: Disqualifications and Exemptions


CLAIMING A DISQUALIFICATION OR EXEMPTION:
You do not have to appear in person to claim a disqualification or exemption. Please see your options below for claiming a disqualification or exemption:

  • ONLINE: Using the JUROR/PIN provided on the front of the summons form, access this website: https://esp1.espview.com/chmc and claim the applicable Disqualification/Exemption.
  • BY MAIL: Check the disqualification/exemption you are claiming on the back of the jury summons form, sign in the space provided, and mail the form to:
    • City of Houston Municipal Courts: Jury Service
      1400 Lubbock, Room 214
      Houston, Texas  77002

DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR JURY SERVICE  (GOVERNMENT CODE §62.102):

  • You are under the age of 18
  • You do not reside within the City of Houston limits (A good indicator of City of Houston residency is voting in City of Houston Mayoral/City Council elections)
  • You are not a citizen of the United States (Persons claiming a disqualification or exemption based on the lack of citizenship or lack of residence in the county might no longer be eligible to vote in the county, as these claims are reported to the Voter Registrar (Government Code §62.0142)
  • You are not of sound mind or of good moral character
  • You have served as a petit juror for six days during the preceding three months in the county court, or during the preceding six months in the district court
  • You have been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a felony
  • You are under indictment or other legal accusation of misdemeanor theft or a felony
EXEMPTIONS FROM JURY SERVICE (GOVERNMENT CODE §62.106):

Please Note: You are not required to claim an Exemption. Your jury service is appreciated if you elect to serve.

  • You are over seventy-five (75) years of age
  • You have legal custody of a child/ children younger than 12 years of age and your jury service requires leaving the child/children without adequate supervision
  • You are a student of a public or private secondary school
  • You are enrolled and attend an institution of higher education
  • 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 unable to care for himself/herself
  • You have served as a petit juror in the Municipal courts, County courts or District courts in the preceding 24 months
  • You are a member of the United States military forces serving on active duty and deployed outside the limits of the City of Houston

PERSON SUMMONED IS DECEASED:
If you are claiming an exemption for someone who is deceased, please see the options below for notifying the Municipal Courts. Upon receipt, we will remove the person summoned from our jury database. We apologize for any inconvenience.

  • ONLINE: Access this website: https://esp1.espview.com/chmc, and using the JUROR /PIN provided on the front of the summons form, select the “Deceased” option located below the Disqualifications and Exemptions section.
  • MAIL:  Check the box below the Disqualification/Exemption section on the back of the summons form and mail the completed form to the address provided at the top of the summons form.
  • EMAIL:  Select the “Deceased” option located below the Disqualifications and Exemptions section on the back of the summons form, scan both sides of the summons form, and email it to: presidingjudge@houstontx.gov.

FAILURE TO ANSWER SUMMONS AND PENALTIES
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. (Govt Code/Section 62.0141). Additionally, 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 (Govt Code, Section 62.111).

RIGHT TO REEMPLOYMENT (CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE, SECTION 122.001):
An employer may not discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce any permanent employee because the employee serves as a juror, or for the employee's attendance or scheduled attendance in connection with the service, in any court in the United States. An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, intimidated, or coerced in violation of this section is entitled to return to the same employment that the employee held when summoned for jury service if the employee, as soon as practical after release from jury service, gives the employer actual notice that the employee intends to return.