Sec. 62.0147. MEANS OF POSTPONEMENT OF JURY SERVICE IN CERTAIN COUNTIES

(a) This section applies only to a county that has:

(1) a council of judges composed of the judges of the district courts and county courts at law; and

(2) a designated jury duty court that addresses administrative matters related to jury service paid for by the county.

(b) A person summoned for jury service may request a postponement of the person's initial appearance for jury service. The person may request the postponement by contacting the council of judges' designee, in person, in writing, or by telephone before the date on which the person is summoned to appear.

(c) On receipt of a request under Subsection (b), the council of judges' designee shall grant the person a postponement if:

(1) the person has not been granted a postponement in that county since the date on which the jury wheel from which the person was selected to appear was most recently reconstituted; and

(2) the designee and the person determine a substitute date on which the person will appear for jury service that is not later than six months after the date on which the person was originally summoned to appear.

(d) A person who is granted a postponement under Subsection (c) may request additional postponements in the manner described by Subsection (b). The council of judges' designee may grant an additional postponement if the designee and the person determine that the person has a legitimate reason for the postponement. Before the designee may grant the additional postponement, the designee and the person must determine a date on which the person will appear for jury service that is not later than six months after the date on which the person was to appear after the later of the date of:

(1) a postponement under Subsection (c); or

(2) the last postponement granted under this subsection.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 89 , Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.