If you’ve been summoned for Fort Bend County jury duty, you’ll report to the Fort Bend County Justice Center at 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle in Richmond on the date and time printed on your summons, unless you qualify for an exemption or get the date postponed. Ignoring the summons can lead to contempt of court and a fine between $100 and $1,000.
Your name most likely came from either the county voter roll or Texas Department of Public Safety records. A Texas driver’s license or state ID with a Fort Bend address is enough to put you in the pool, even if you’ve never registered to vote.1State of Texas. Texas Government Code 62.001 – Jury Source
Who Qualifies to Serve
To sit on a petit jury in Fort Bend County, you need to meet all of the following:
- At least 18 years old
- A U.S. citizen
- A current resident of Fort Bend County
- Able to read and write in English
- No conviction for misdemeanor theft or any felony, and not currently under indictment for either
The criminal-history bar is automatic. A felony conviction disqualifies you permanently, and a misdemeanor theft conviction does the same.2Fort Bend County. Petit Jury Service Qualifications/Exemptions
Who Can Claim an Exemption
Even if you qualify, Texas law lets you opt out under specific circumstances. You can claim an exemption if you are:
- Age 75 or older. You can ask for a one-time excuse or a permanent exemption that removes you from future jury wheels.3State of Texas. Texas Government Code 62.106 – Exemption From Jury Service
- The legal custodian of a child under 12, where serving would leave the child without adequate supervision
- Enrolled in a public or private secondary school, or enrolled and actively attending a college or university
- The primary caretaker of an adult who can’t care for themselves
- An active-duty service member deployed away from your home station and outside Fort Bend County
- Someone who served on a petit jury within the preceding 24 months, given Fort Bend’s population size
Note that the age threshold is 75, not 70. That’s a common mix-up worth checking before you assume you qualify.2Fort Bend County. Petit Jury Service Qualifications/Exemptions Exemptions are voluntary. Meeting one lets you be excused; the court doesn’t remove you automatically.
Postponing Your Service Date
If no exemption fits but the date is genuinely inconvenient, request a postponement. Call the jury department at 281-344-3993 or email jurydept@fortbendcountytx.gov. Have your juror badge number ready. The District Clerk’s office will reschedule you to a later date.
A postponement is not a release. You’re still obligated to serve, just on a different day. Ignoring the summons entirely, without asking for a new date or claiming an exemption, is what triggers contempt proceedings.
Complete the Questionnaire Before You Report
Your summons comes with a juror questionnaire you must complete before your reporting date. Fill it out on the paper form attached to the summons, or submit it online through the District Clerk’s eResponse system at juryresponse.fortbendcountytx.gov. It asks about your occupation, employer, criminal history, and prior jury service. Answer accurately. False information can carry penalties.
While you have the summons in hand, look for two details you’ll need on reporting day: your assigned group number and your reporting time.
What Reporting Day Looks Like
The Justice Center is at 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, TX 77469.4Fort Bend County. Justice Center Parking is free in the designated garage and adjacent lots. At the entrance you’ll go through a Sheriff’s Office security screening with bag checks and a metal detector, so leave pocket knives and similar items in your vehicle.
Once inside, go to the Jury Assembly Room on the first floor. Staff will scan the barcode on your summons or confirm your online questionnaire. You’ll wait in the assembly area until a bailiff or court coordinator calls your group number. If you need wheelchair access, assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, or another disability accommodation, contact the District Clerk’s office ahead of time so it can be arranged before you arrive.
What Happens After Your Group Is Called
When your group is called, you’ll move to a courtroom for voir dire. The judge starts with general questions about your background and any conflicts, and then the attorneys ask more specific questions tied to the case. Some jurors are struck for cause when there’s a clear bias or conflict; each side also has a limited number of peremptory strikes.
The process can take a couple of hours or a full day depending on the case. If you aren’t seated on the jury, you’re usually released, and that fulfills your service obligation.
How Much You’ll Be Paid
Texas sets minimum pay at $20 for your first day and at least $58 for each additional day you’re required to attend.5State of Texas. Texas Government Code 61.001 Fort Bend County pays by debit card or check after your service ends. It won’t match a normal day’s wages for most people, but it’s meant to offset travel and basic expenses.
Jury pay is taxable. Report it as “other income” on your federal Form 1040. If your employer keeps paying your salary during jury service and requires you to turn over the jury check, you can claim the surrendered amount as an adjustment to income on the same return.6IRS. Skills Warm Up – Jury Duty Pay Given to Employer
Your Job Is Protected
Texas law makes it illegal for a private employer to fire a permanent employee for serving on a jury or grand jury.7State of Texas. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 122.001 – Jurors Right to Reemployment, Notice of Intent to Return If you’re fired in violation of that rule, you’re entitled to return to the same job you held when summoned, provided you tell your employer you intend to return as soon as practical after you’re released.
An employer who fires, threatens, or penalizes you for jury service can be held in contempt of court.8State of Texas. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 122.0022 Texas does not require private employers to pay your regular wages while you serve, though many do so voluntarily. Check your employee handbook or ask HR before your reporting date.
What Happens if You Skip It
Failing to comply with a jury summons, or giving false information to get out of one, can bring a contempt finding and a fine between $100 and $1,000 under Texas Government Code Section 62.0141. In some cases a judge can direct the Sheriff or a constable to bring you to the courthouse.
Courts have discretion. A first-time no-show with a reasonable explanation may get a follow-up summons rather than a fine. Repeated no-shows or deliberate avoidance are far more likely to end in contempt. If your date won’t work, request a postponement in advance. It’s always the safer move than not showing up.