Blog 3396 – 02.19.2025

Jury Duty

In the state of Texas, citizens with state I.D.’s, licensed drivers, and those who are registered to vote are required by law to appear for jury duty when summoned by the various courts, federal, state, county, and city. The summons details some exemptions, one of which is that if you are seventy-five years of age you can claim exemption and just mail your summons back to the court so noted and you do not have to appear.

I turned seventy-four last November and was summoned for jury duty in early December. The entire jury pool was dismissed, it was one of the small pools because it only served one court and the judge said all the cases for that day had settled and did not need a jury.

I thought that would probably be my last jury duty experience, but as has been the case quite often in my life I was mistaken. That reminds me of an old joke about a man who had a bit of trouble admitting when he was wrong. The man said, “I thought I was wrong once about twenty years ago, but I was mistaken.”

I often tell people that it is good to keep that reverse gear greased and in good working order because every one of us is going to need to back-up perhaps more often that we like to admit.

I have to report for jury duty this morning at 8 am in downtown Houston at the Harris County District Court House. It is usually a half-day affair even if you are not picked for there are quite a number of courts requiring large jury panels and most people called will get picked for a panel. If you do not wish to serve and hope to get out of there fast your best bet is to get selected for a panel early and be rejected as a juror by the lawyer for the defense or the prosecution.

I have never been stricken for cause and have served on several juries over the years. I believe it is the duty of every citizen to vote and to answer the call for jury duty. When I was a young man and the military draft was in effect I enlisted on my eighteenth birthday before I could ever be drafted.

I served my three years (less three months that I got out early to attend college) and even spent eleven months of that in a combat zone, in the Republic of South Vietnam.

Citizenship has a price and some have paid dearly for the privilege.

Citizens have a right to request a trial by a jury of their peers and jury duty is all about making that right a reality. Though I look forward to being exempted from jury this November I will do my duty today.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White