Jury Duty Information

Jury service is an obligation of citizenship that is essential to the judicial process. It is an opportunity for you to make a meaningful contribution to ensure that justice is provided in our community. The Judge of the Municipal Court recognizes that jury service entails an imposition on the citizens called for jury service. In order to minimize the burden caused by your jury service, we ask that you report at least 15 minutes prior to the court time indicated. The Lago Vista Municipal Court building is located at 5803 Thunderbird St. Your juror questionnaire may be returned to the court in person, by mail, by email (lagocourt@lagovistatexas.gov), or by completing the online form linked below. 

 We hope that you will find the opportunity to serve to be a pleasant and rewarding experience. Your service as a juror is appreciated.

Statutory Qualifications

(Texas Government Code, Section 62.102, except where noted)

A person is qualified to serve as a petit juror if that person:

1. Is at least 18 years of age;
2. Is a citizen of the United States;
3. Is a resident of this state and of the county in which the person is to serve as a juror;
4. Is qualified under the constitution and laws to vote in the county in which the person is to serve as a juror;
5. Is of sound mind and good moral character;
6. Is able to read and write;
7. Has not 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;
8. Has not been convicted of a misdemeanor theft or a felony; and 
9. Is not under indictment or other legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or a felony.

Statutory Exemptions

(Texas Government Code, Section 62.106) 

A person may claim an exemption if that person:

1. Is over 75 years of age;
2. Has legal custody of a child younger than 12 years of age and the person's service on the jury requires leaving the child without adequate supervision;
3. Is a student of a public or private secondary school;
4. Is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education;
5. Is an officer or an employee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or any agency in the legislative branch of state government;
6. Is summoned for service in a county with a population of at least 200,000, unless that county uses a jury plan under Section 62.011 and the period authorized under Section 62.011 (b) (5) exceeds two years, and the person has served as a petit juror in the county during the 24-month period preceding the date the person is to appear for jury service;
7. Is the primary caretaker of a person who is unable to care for himself or herself;
8. Except as provided by Subsection (b), is summoned for service in a county with a population of at least 250,000 and the person has served as a petit juror in the county during the three-year period preceding the date the person is to appear for jury service; or 
9. Is a member of the United States military forces serving on active duty and deployed to a location away from the person's home station and out of the person's county of residence.

If you wish to claim an exemption or disqualification, you may return your completed juror form to the Municipal Court in person, by mail, by email (lagocourt@lagovistatexas.gov), or by completing the online form linked below.

Juror's Rights and Responsibilities

Right to Reemployment:

A private employer may not terminate the employment of a permanent employee because the employee serves as a juror. An employee whose employment is terminated 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. (Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section 122.001). Terminating an employee for jury duty is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine not exceeding $2,000 (Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section 122.002).

NOTICES

1. Failure to appear for jury service may result in a $100 fine for contempt (Article 45.027 of the Code of Criminal Procedure).
2. If you fail to attend court in obedience to the notice without reasonable excuse or file a false claim of exemption, you may be fined not less than $100 or more than $500 (Section 62.111 of the Government Code).
3. If you do not comply with the summons or knowingly provide false information in a request for an exemption to be excused from jury service, you are subject to a contempt action punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000 (Section 62.0141 of the Government Code).
4. If you claim to be disqualified based on a lack of citizenship, you will no longer be eligible to vote if you fail to provide proof of citizenship. If you claim a disqualification or exemption based on lack of residence in this county, you may no longer be eligible to vote in this county (Sections 62.113 and 62.114 of the Government Code).