The Brazoria County District Attorney's Office has received information that leads them to believe jury panels may have been assembled in a manner "inconsistent with applicable statutes and law.". the Texas Legislature outlawed the controversial key man method of grand jury selection, Inside the Karaoke Bar Where Texas Lawmakers Serenade Each Other, The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. These allegations about a corrupt process first surfaced in late August. Unfortunately there are no business/self-employment exemptions administered by the state legislature at this time. Meyers attorney, Dan Cogdell, wouldnt describe the system, but said it involved an attempt to ensure a more diverse venire. I am over 70 years of age. The process by which Barchak assembled the final stack is unclear. "We have identified four families whose loved ones were tried by all white juries," said Quanell X. What matters to him is that the law is followed, Green says. The length of jury service will vary considerably for summoned jurors. To tell the other jurors any of this information is a violation of these instructions. Without having a very explicit statutory or court authorization for doing that, it strikes me as being legally problematic., Lewis said that Barchak began using the system around 2015, when the Texas Legislature outlawed the controversial key man method of grand jury selection, under which jury commissioners picked friends and colleagues to serve on grand juries, which determine whether there is enough evidence to file charges against someone. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. . Ph: (979) 361-4224. The court has the discretion to hear any reasonable sworn excuse of a prospective juror and either release the juror from jury service or reschedule the juror's jury service for another day. by: Magnolia832 4 OP. Also, you might want to avoid parking in metered parking spaces because you do not know how long you will be in jury service. Do not let anyone else do any of these things for you. The DA's office has received information that leads them to believe jury panels may have been assembled improperly. However, the majority, usually more than two-thirds, of all summoned jurors are NOT actually selected for service, therefore, their duty ends after a short time with the completion of the jury selection process. However, the court may not excuse a juror for an economic reason unless each party of record is present and approves the release. Visit our Links Page for websites providing Employment Listings, as well as US Government holiday closings. Not surprising given the political climate in Brazoria County. And then, white residents who (also) didn't live in Pearland, and nonwhite residents who (also) didn't live in Pearland. Jury registration is a simple process that can be completed: Online through the My Jury Duty Portal found here; On the telephone by calling (213) 972-0970 and selecting the "Registration" option from the menu. As ABC13 works to learn more about the nature of the alleged "irregularities," another question remaining has to do with what this could mean for the people tried by juries who may have been assembled improperly. "I'm putting my faith in the Department of Justice to come back with their conclusion in what they're discovering and finding in a jury tampering system and what took place in Brazoria County, Texas," Quanell told ABC13. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. SB0168E 12/15 41651 12/15 Brazoria County District Clerk's Office under investigation over 'irregularities' in jury process, FBI joins investigation into Brazoria County selection case, activist says, Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous', Families want feds to look into Brazoria Co. jury process: 'The truth is always going to come out'. ", But, a grand jury chose not to indict her. Read full article. Except for specially called jury panels (which are very rare) Brazoria County allows every juror one postponement for any reason at all in order for everyone to have the opportunity to pick a date better suited for their individual schedule. But if she was aiming for a venire that reflected the countys population, she had a problem: Brazoria Countys population has become more diverse, changing from 51 percent non-white to 57 percent non-white in the years since 2015. **Jury Trial has been canceled for Thursday, September 15, 2022. Brazoria County resident Linda Hagger believes her son, Brandon Williams, was wrongly convicted 11 years ago. You can, however, claim payment if your earnings are in any way affected by your participation. The information contained on this web site is not intended to take the place of the instructions given by the judge or the court concerning any aspect of jury service. I am qualified to serve under the Constitution and laws to vote in this county. In the event of any conflicts, the instructions and procedures given to you by the judge or the court should be followed. Also, try to keep an open mind about your jury service and remember that you are playing an essential role in our justice system. If you would like to serve even though you are eligible for an exemption then we certainly appreciate your choosing to do so. (Applies only to counties with a population of at least 200,000 unless the county uses a jury plan under 62.011, Gov't Code, and the period authorized under 62.011(b) exceeds two years. Entering the courthouse with a prohibited weapon is against the law. Brazoria County District Courts DO Postpone Jury Dates, 979-864-1836 (Central & West) Occasionally, we have a juror who privately seeks out information about a case on trial. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. If a delay occurs while you are present for jury service, please try to be patient with the court staff. Citing the Texas Rangers ongoing investigation, which is expected to wrap up by the end of this month, Selleck would not comment further about what Barchak did with those four piles of cards, or about any other details of the case. If anyone attempts to discuss the case, report it to the judge at once. In a statement sent to ABC13 on Friday, Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck said, "The law requires jurors to be selected at random and it is this process that is alleged to have been conducted improperly.". The community [stretches] from Pearland to Freeport, he said. "Rhonda assumed the duties of the Brazoria County District Clerk on July 2, 2010. Informations sur votre appareil et sur votre connexion Internet, y compris votre adresseIP, Navigation et recherche lors de lutilisation des sites Web et applications Yahoo. I am of sound mind and good moral character. RELATED: Brazoria County District Clerk's Office under investigation over 'irregularities' in jury process, "They would sort them into four separate piles," Bauman said. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Your attire should show respect for the court. 111 E Locust, Rm 102A, Angleton, TX77515-4678 The Texas Rangers are in the process of investigating whether Rhonda Barchak, Brazoria County's former District Clerk, illegally stacked jury panels according to geography, race, and political . If any of these apply to you, contact the court to verify they observe the exemption. any other program(s) approved by the commissioners court. En cliquant sur Accepter tout, vous acceptez que Yahoo et nos partenaires traitent vos informations personnelles et utilisent des technologies telles que les cookies pour afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss, et des fins de mesure des publicits et des contenus, dtude des audiences et de dveloppement de produit. jury duty. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Official Court proceedings are held at the City Hall Municipal Building in the Municipal Courtroom\City Council Chambers. Lawyers then conduct what is called voir dire (which means to speak the truth), which allows the lawyers and the judge to have the opportunity to ask each prospective juror a series of questions. Angleton, TX 77515-4678, Brazoria County Courthouse Brazoria County Jury Duty is Canceled for Tuesday, January 19, 2021. ); or. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The Texas Rangers are being called in to investigate after the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office found out about potential "irregularities" in the district clerk's office, specifically regarding the jury assembly process. Please write on the front or back of the summons Active duty military and return to our office. Texas Monthly contacted 38 current and former district court employees to try to confirm Lewiss description of Barchaks system; all either failed to respond or declined to comment. CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS. If you receive a call about missing jury duty, please call the Brazoria County District Clerk's Office phone number at 979-864-1836 and the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office at 979-864-1230. Citizens on the list are randomly selected and mailed a summons to report for jury service. According to Lewis, a defense attorney who has represented such high-profile clients as Enron chief executive Ken Lay, convicted murderer Robert Durst, and Mexican drug kingpin Osiel Crdenas Guilln, Barchak would take the full stack of around 200 to 250 juror cards into a back room, where she and other county employees would first sort them into two piles: Pearland residents and non-Pearland residents. Jury duty is a civic responsibility that you do not get paid to attend. Jurors are paid for their service. Simply follow the I-Jury information enclosed with the juror summons you received. Jury Online Find your court. Its free. They will have the same instructions and you will understand it when they do. Do not discuss anything about this case, or even mention it to anyone whomsoever, including your wife or husband nor permit anyone to mention it in your hearing until you are discharged as jurors or excused form this case. Local judges may restrict certain attire, such as shorts, cutoff, sleeveless shirts, sandals, and hats. At some point during the jury selection process, prospective jurors are given an oath by which they swear or affirm to tell the truth when answering questions about their qualifications as jurors. Families want answers in Brazoria County jury selection: 'This is ridiculous' By Courtney Carpenter. 111 E. Locust, Suite 500 ", $100 bond set for catalytic converter theft suspect's evading charge, Man on parole for murder charged in connection to Leslie Obi's killing, Oak pollen already a big problem, but strong storms could wash it away. There are no transportation exemptions. Because you will need to consider all of the evidence admitted by the judge, it is important that you pay close attention to the evidence as it is presented at trial. In the state of Texas, there are possible exemptions for full time students enrolled in a college institution, caregivers of children under ten . Do not even discuss this case among yourselves until after you have heard all of the evidence, the court's charge, the attorneys' arguments and until I have sent you to the jury room to consider your verdict. Pointed items, such as pocket knives or knitting needles, are not permitted in the courthouse. The law says that all individuals are competent jurors unless specifically disqualified. Listen carefully and follow the instructions given by court personnel and the judge. We will then forward this information to the Brazoria County elections department. Lewis said Barchak received no training on how to randomize the cards, and that she learned the technique from other county employees. Barchak, who resigned in late August after having held the post since 2010, divided up jurors by geographical region, and then by race, to assemble panels for criminal, civil, and family-law trials. This guide gives you the information you need when you have been called for jury duty and directs you to additional resources that can explain the court system and jury process. Next, Lewis said, Barchak would subdivide the two geographical piles into white and non-white jurors. If you. With your cooperation and attention to detail, the jury selection process may run smoother and be completed faster. I dont know why [Barchak] moved away from it., Jeff Purvis has practiced law in Brazoria County for more than two decades, first as a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney. Code of Criminal Procedure,Articles 35.16 et. She always did everything possible to ensure juries in Brazoria County reflected a properly representative cross section of the community. ); Have legal custody of a child younger than 12 years of age and your service on the jury requires leaving the child without adequate supervision; Are a student of a public or private secondary school; Are a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education; Are an officer or an employee of the senate, house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of government; Have served as a petit juror in the county during the 24-month period preceding the date you are required to appear for this summons. The Brazoria County Courthouseis open on M-F from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in this county in which you are to serve as a juror. At this time the only type of employment that may claim an exemption from jury duty is exemption No. Gabriel Garcia Brazos County District Clerk 300 E. 26th Street, Suite 1200 You can also expect to receive a brief orientation in the courtroom or in the jury assembly room regarding jury service. Veteran Texas attorney David Sheppard, who recently retired after practicing criminal law for more than forty years and was as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Texas School of Law,said he had never heard of a system like Barchaks. ); Have been summoned for service in a county with a population of at least 250,000 and you have served as a petit juror in the county during the three year period preceding the date you are to appear for jury service. However, you will probably be asked for a juror index number (or other number provided on the summons) and the service date (also on your summons). That right has long been considered a fundamental safeguard of each American's civil liberties. Brazoria County, Phone Number: 979-864-1200 This avoids a trial based upon secret evidence. Step 2: Maintain hygiene: You should make sure your hair is clean, your skin is clean, your teeth are brushed, and your fingernails are trimmed. The Texas Rangers confirmed to ABC13 that their investigation is complete. A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. Jury. But Rhonda Barchak, a Republican who served as district clerk in the fast-growing county that stretches from the Houston suburbs to the Gulf Coast, had her own method. Angleton, TX 77515, Design By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. I believe thats generally the case, he said. Rhonda Barchak was the Brazoria County District Clerk for 11 years. be a resident of this state and 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; 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; and. As a result, you need to follow all of the jury instructions given by the judge throughout the case very carefully. Unfortunately your employer is not currently required by Texas state law to pay you while you are serving jury duty. I desire to obtain a permanent exemption from jury service because I am over 70 years of age. The Government Code states that a person who fails to comply with this summons is subject to a contempt action punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 (62.0141). Jury Services (979) 361-4224 300 East 26th Street, Suite 2214 Bryan, TX 77803 . Theres a large cultural difference between Pearland and Freeporta small rural townalthough theyre in the same county.. Do not make any investigation about the facts of this case. Angleton, TX 77515, Design By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. The law requires jurors be selected at random, said Selleck, also a Republican, and it is this process that is alleged to have been conducted improperly.. Each juror receives ten dollars ($10) for the first day of appearance and forty dollars ($40) for the second and any subsequent days of appearance. An employer who terminates, threatens to terminate, penalizes, or threatens to penalize an employee because the employee performs jury duty is subject to sanctions for contempt of court and payment of damages to the employee. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Do not consider, discuss, nor speculate whether or not any party is or is not protected in whole or in part by insurance of any kind. ", -U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren (1962). The process shes doing gives the jury a better chance of being a cross section, which is what were supposed to do with a jury pool, Lewis said. Be sure that you know where you are supposed to report. The former district clerk in question has now retired. Hale County, TX Hermiston, OR Hill County, TX Lake Oswego, OR McKinney, TX . Do not seek information contained in law books, dictionaries, public or private records or elsewhere, which is not admitted in evidence. You Already Served. 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