If you’ve been summoned for Travis County jury duty, your first move is to log in to the county’s i-Juror portal with the juror number on your summons and your date of birth, complete the online impaneling form, and either claim an exemption, list a scheduling conflict, or plan to appear on the date you’re assigned. Ignoring the summons exposes you to a fine of $100 to $1,000.
Responding Through i-Juror
The portal is at ijury.traviscountytx.gov.1Travis County. TC – iJury Please Log In Once you log in, the impaneling form collects your personal information and lets you list dates you can’t serve. The jury office uses those conflicts when assigning you to a trial.2Travis County, Texas. Jury Duty
If nothing on the calendar works, the office can grant a 90-day postponement. Forgot to add a conflict after you finished the form? Call the jury office at 512-854-9669 right away. Once you’ve been assigned to a specific trial, only a judge can release or reschedule you, and at that point it takes an emergency.2Travis County, Texas. Jury Duty
Who Can Be Excused
Texas law lists several categories of people who qualify to serve but can opt out. Exemptions are permissive: you can still serve if you want to, but you have to actively claim the exemption through i-Juror or by contacting the jury office.3State of Texas. Texas Government Code 62.106 – Exemption From Jury Service
- You’re 75 or older.
- You have custody of a child under 12 and serving would leave the child without adequate supervision.
- You’re enrolled in and attending a secondary school or an institution of higher education.
- You’re an officer or employee of the Texas Senate, House of Representatives, or a legislative agency.
- You’re the primary caretaker of someone who cannot care for themselves.
- You’re on active-duty military service and deployed away from your county of residence.
- You’ve served as a juror in Travis County within the past 24 months (this applies because Travis County has a population of at least 200,000).
You’re outright disqualified, not just exempt, if you’ve been convicted of misdemeanor theft or any felony, or you’re under indictment for either. You’re also disqualified if you’ve already served six or more days as a juror within the last three months in county court or the last six months in district court.4State of Texas. Texas Government Code 62.102 – General Qualifications for Jury Service
Hardship and Medical Excuses
If none of the exemption categories fits but you have a real reason you can’t serve, a judge or the court’s designee can hear a sworn excuse and release you or reschedule you. One limit: a judge cannot excuse you for purely economic reasons unless all parties in the case agree.5State of Texas. Texas Government Code 62.110 – Judicial Excuse of Juror
For a medical excuse, you’ll generally need a doctor’s note that names the condition and states how long it will keep you from sitting through a trial. A permanent medical excuse typically requires a physician’s certification that the condition is ongoing. Submit medical documentation as early as you can, through i-Juror or directly to the jury office.
What Happens If You Don’t Show Up
Failing to comply with a jury summons is punishable by a contempt fine of $100 to $1,000. The same fine applies if you give false information to claim an exemption or get excused. The statute adds that this fine is “in addition to any criminal penalty prescribed by law.”6State of Texas. Texas Government Code 62.0141 – Failure to Answer Jury Summons
In practice, the process usually begins with a failure-to-appear notice or warning letter. If you keep ignoring the court, a judge can order you to appear and explain your absence, and continued defiance can escalate to a bench warrant. If you can’t serve, use the exemption or hardship process instead of skipping.
Where to Report and What to Bring
Where you go depends on the case. Civil and family cases are heard at the Civil and Family Courts Facility at 1700 Guadalupe Street. Criminal cases are heard at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center at 509 W. 11th Street. Your assignment letter tells you which building and what time.2Travis County, Texas. Jury Duty
Bring your summons and a valid photo ID. Everyone goes through security with metal detectors and X-ray machines, so leave weapons, knives, and sharp objects at home. Cell phones are generally allowed, but expect restrictions on using them in courtrooms. Bring something to read. The jury assembly room involves a lot of waiting.
Dress Code
Shorts, flip-flops, tank tops, hats, and clothing with offensive images or language are not allowed.7Travis County, Texas. Rules of Attire and Conduct You don’t need a suit, but business casual is safe. Courtrooms run cold; a jacket or sweater helps.
Parking
Metered street parking around the courthouse accepts coins and cards. Give yourself extra time on weekday mornings. Commercial garages nearby cost more. The county does not provide free parking or validation for jurors.
What Happens at the Courthouse
After security and check-in, you’ll sit through a brief orientation in the jury assembly room. Groups of prospective jurors are then sent to individual courtrooms as needed.
In the courtroom, the judge and both sides’ attorneys will ask you questions in a process called voir dire. They’re trying to figure out whether you can be fair in the specific case in front of them. Questions can feel personal, covering your job, experiences with law enforcement, or views on certain topics. Answer honestly. The attorneys aren’t looking for a perfect juror; they’re looking for bias they can identify.
If you aren’t selected, you’re released. If you are, the judge will explain how long the trial is expected to last. Most county-level civil and criminal trials wrap up in a few days, though complex cases can run longer.
Pay and Taxes
Texas law sets minimum juror reimbursement at $20 for the first day and $58 for each additional day. Those are floors. The Travis County Commissioners Court sets the actual daily rate, which can vary by court, and a judge can increase the rate in a specific case if the parties agree to split the extra cost.8State of Texas. Texas Government Code 61.001 – Reimbursement of Expenses of Jurors and Prospective Jurors
Jury pay is taxable. Report it on the “other income” line of your federal Form 1040. If your employer keeps paying your salary during service but requires you to turn over your jury check, you can deduct the amount you handed over as an adjustment to income on the same return.9IRS. Skills Warm Up – Jury Duty Pay Given to Employer
Job Protection While You Serve
Texas law prohibits an employer from firing, threatening, intimidating, or retaliating against a permanent employee for serving on a jury. That protection covers attendance at jury service in any court in the United States, not just Texas courts.10State of Texas. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 122.001 – Protection of Jurors Employment
If an employer fires you in violation of that law, you’re entitled to return to the same position you held when you were summoned. You have to give your employer actual notice that you intend to return as soon as practical after service ends.10State of Texas. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 122.001 – Protection of Jurors Employment
What the law does not do is require your employer to pay you while you serve. No federal or Texas law mandates paid jury leave for private-sector workers. Some employers offer it voluntarily, so check your handbook or ask HR before your service date. Without employer pay, the county’s daily reimbursement is what you’ll receive.