Frequently Asked Questions


The Jury Office is open Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During business hours, jurors may call (915) 273-3522. to speak with a staff member between the hours of 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The Jury Office fax number is (915) 543-3876.
The El Paso County Jury Office address is:
El Paso County Jury Assembly Hall
200 S. Kansas, Street
El Paso, Texas 79901

The list of names that is used to call people for jury service is created by combining the County’s voter registration list and Texas Licensed Driver and Identification records. Names are randomly selected from that master list for possible service as a juror.

Under certain circumstances, such as permanent mental or physical disability, you may contact the jury office for further assistance at (915) 273-3522.

The law automatically disqualifies from jury service; non-citizens, convicted felons whose civil rights have not been restored, and people under 18 years of age.

The United States Constitution guarantees all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin or economic status the right to trial by an impartial jury of one's peers. In order to uphold this guarantee, we need those summoned to participate in the jury process to ensure every citizen's right to have their case decided by an impartial jury selected from a representative pool of prospective jurors.

Any person charged with a criminal offense or any party in a civil case has the right to a trial by jury. All parties are equal before the law and each is given the same fair and impartial treatment.

Your duty as a juror is to weigh all of the evidence and testimony presented to you and to decide the outcome of the case based upon the law and the evidence. Your decision must be fair, impartial and free of any bias or prejudice. Jury service is the basis of our judicial system and is essential to the administration of justice.

After your panel is selected and reports to a courtroom, a process known as voir dire begins. During voir dire, the judge and possibly the attorneys will ask you questions to see if you can keep an open mind and be fair. After you have been questioned, you will either be selected or excused for that particular case. If you are selected, you and the other selected jurors will receive instructions from the judge as to what is expected of you. If you are not selected, you will return to the jury room and may be sent to another courtroom with another panel or you may be excused to leave.

If you are selected to sit on a jury, the average trial length is two to three days, although trials may be longer or shorter depending upon the facts of the case.

There are two basic types of cases, criminal and civil. In a CRIMINAL case, the jury decides the guilt or innocence of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. In a CIVIL case, the jury decides whether or not money damages should be given and, if given, how much those damages will be.

Jurors should dress comfortably, but properly for a courtroom. Shorts, mini-skirts, tank tops and halters are NOT permitted. If you report wearing any of these items, you may be asked to return home, at your own expense, to change into more suitable attire.

The United States Constitution and the Texas State Constitution guarantees the right to trial by jury. Failure to attend as directed may subject you to penalties provided by law. All El Paso County residents are obligated by state law to serve as a juror unless they:

  • Are NOT a United States citizen;
  • Are NOT a resident of El Paso County, Texas
  • Are UNDER 18 years of age;
  • Have been convicted of a felony or theft offense;

The jury process can require a juror to wait a considerable amount of time. For this reason, jurors are encouraged to bring a book or other form of reading material with them to the jury assembly room. Jurors may NOT bring cameras, Walkmans or radios. Cellular phones and pagers MUST be turned off.

No. Only those summoned for jury service are allowed in the jury assembly room. You may have someone escort you to and from jury service, but that person is not allowed to enter the jury assembly room. The jury assembly room is for prospective jurors ONLY.

Failure to appear for jury service when summoned is a serious matter. You may be held in contempt of court and could be fined up to $1000.00. It is in your best interest to appear if you are summoned to avoid any further action. If you are found guilty of contempt of court, you will be incarcerated in the county jail for a period not to exceed six months.

Yes. Vending machines are located near the jury assembly room. If you plan to purchase vending items, please bring enough change. Jury assembly room staff will not be able to provide change.

Yes. You will be paid no less than $20 for the first day or fraction of the first day the juror is in attendance in court in response to the process and discharges the person’s duty for that day; and not less than $58 for each day or fraction of each day the person is in attendance in court in response to the process after the first day and discharges the person’s duty for that day. Please note that if you are excused from jury duty at Liberty Hall, you will not be compensated for jury services.

No. An employer is NOT required by law to pay employees who are on jury service, but many employers do. You should check with your company's human resources department before serving to see if your company pays your salary for days you are a juror. If you DO receive your salary while on jury service, you should ask what your employer requires as proof that you served as a juror. Reporting to jury duty is a requirement whether or not an employer compensates you.

No. According to Texas law, an employer may not terminate the employment of a permanent employee because the employee serves as a juror. An employee whose employment is terminated is a violation in accordance to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section §122.001.

Texas law does not provide for an excuse from jury service for moral or religious beliefs. You are still required to appear for jury service. When you get to a courtroom, the judge will make that decision.

El Paso County tries civil and criminal cases, both of which require juries. The random selection process prevents you from knowing in advance what trial or even what type of trial for which you'll be selected. If when you get to a courtroom the judge excuses you, you've fulfilled your obligation for jury service. But the Jury staff cannot excuse you as a potential juror because of what you do for a living.

The Jury Office realizes prospective jurors may have been summoned at an inconvenient time and is willing to defer service to a more convenient time in most instances. Jurors may request a first-time postponement after being summoned by calling (915) 273-3522 or via Internet. Jurors may select a new date of their choice, with some limitations as long as the new date is within 90 days of the date on which they were scheduled to appear. Subsequent postponements are not allowed unless it is an extreme emergency that was not anticipated when the first postponement was granted and may require a Judge’s approval.

A juror must possess the following requisite qualifications to serve as juror:

  • Is at least 18 years of age;

  • Is a citizen of the United States;

  • Is a resident of this state, and of the County in which the person is to serve;

  • Is qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in the county in which the jury is sitting, regardless of whether the person is registered to vote;

  • Is of sound and mind and good moral character;

  • Is able to read and write;

  • Has not been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a felony;

  • Is not under indictment or other legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or felony;

  • Is not related within the third degree of consanguinity or second degree affinity, a determined under Government Code Chapter 573, to any person selected to serve or serving on the same jury;

  • Has not served as a juror in the year before the date on which the term of court for which the person has been selected as juror begins; and

  • Is not a complainant in any matter to be heard by the jury during the term of court for which the person has been selected as a juror.

Pursuant to section 62.106 of the Texas Government Code, a person qualified to serve may claim an exemption from jury service if the person:

  • Is over 75 years of age. (Effective September 1, 2023, the age exemption has changed from 70 years to 75 years of age, pursuant to HB 3474 of the 88th Texas Legislature.) ;

  • Has legal custody of a child under the age of 12 years, if jury service by that person would necessitate leaving the child without adequate supervision;

  • Is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education;

  • Is summoned for service and has served as a petit juror during the preceding 24-month period;

  • Is an officer or an employee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state government;

  • Is the primary caretaker of a person who is disabled and unable to care for themselves; or

  • 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.

  • Has a mental or physical disability that prevents someone from serving on a jury, which would require medical certification from a licensed physician.

If a juror does not qualify for an exemption, the juror may request an excuse from the court. The Presiding Judge hears and determines excuses for not having the ability to serve as a juror.

If you require a sign language interpreter in order to serve as a juror, please contact the District Clerk’s Office as soon as you receive the summons in order to ensure arrangements can be made and services are available for you on the date you are to report. There are several different ways to request a sign language interpreter:

By Phone: 915-273-3522 and ask for Gabriela Ruiz, Jury Supervisor
By email: districtclerk@epcounty.com
By fax: 915-273-3859
By Mail or In Person:

El Paso County District Clerk’s Office – Jury Division
Attention: Gabriela Ruiz
200 S. Kansas St.
El Paso TX 79901

It is important that you please make arrangements upon receipt of the jury summons, or no later than 10 days prior to your scheduled date for jury service.

Jurors may park at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse parking garage, located at 500 E. Overland Ave. (Behind the courthouse at the corner of Overland and Kansas). Entrance is on Overland.

Note: Tickets you receive for unauthorized parking or while on private property will not be the responsibility of the court.

From Liberty Hall, selected jurors will be escorted to the County Courthouse. Upon entering the Courthouse, you will be required to go through a magnetometer. All briefcases, purses and packages will be x-rayed by security. You may be required to remove belts with large metal buckles. The following items are prohibited in the building: firearms, knives, scissors or any other sharp object or weapons.

If your employer requires proof of attendance, you may obtain a certificate in the jury assembly room. You may obtain your certificate after your service has been completed.

It is suggested that jurors reporting to jury duty eat breakfast as we do not know when or if the Court will break for lunch. For this reason, you may also want to bring a snack and lunch. Further, if you require any special medication(s) due to health reasons, please bring these items with you.

Pursuant to Texas Government Code §61.003 you have the option of donating all or a portion of your juror reimbursement to the following charitable programs:

  • Crime Victim’s Compensation (CVC) Program- to encourage greater victim participation in apprehension and prosecution of criminals and reimbursing innocent victims for certain out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of violent crime.

  • General Assistance specifically for Child Welfare Services- to provide local public welfare services for abuse and neglected children and their families, and provide funding for these services.

  • El Paso Veterans Treatment Court Program (EPVTCP) –to provide justice involved veterans and active service members with treatment and judicial monitoring and afford them the tools to lead productive law-abiding lives.

  • Veterans County Service Office - to advocate for and provide superior service to Veterans and their families, and surviving spouses by submitting claims for earned benefits; increase community awareness and presence to gain access to every Veteran eligible for entitlements and services.

Please note that if you are selected as a juror, the court Bailiff will hand you a reimbursement check along with a juror donation form that you can complete and sign along with endorsing your check to donate to any of the three charitable donations noted above. Click here to see a sample of the donation form you will be given if you are selected to serve as a juror.

The City and County of El Paso have joined together to make jury service more convenient for you. A free bus pass, providing round trip service to Downtown, is included with the juror summons. The pass is valid only for the date of your jury service.


El Paso County Jury Assembly Hall
200 S. Kansas Street
El Paso, TX 79901