Texas Jury Health
Return to Jury Health Project main page.
The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate. The Legislature shall pass such laws as may be needed to regulate the same, and to maintain its purity and efficiency. Provided, that the Legislature may provide for the temporary commitment, for observation and/or treatment, of mentally ill persons not charged with a criminal offense, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days, by order of the County Court without the necessity of a trial by jury.
—Texas State Constitution; Article 1, Section 15
State Law Resources
- Constitution: Constitution of the State of Texas
- Code/Statutes: Texas Statutes
- Legislature: Texas Legislature
- Judiciary: Texas Judicial Branch
- Rules of Criminal Procedure: Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
- Rules of Civil Procedure: Texas Rules of Civil Procedure
Texas Jury News
Despite Constitutional speedy trial guarantees, most jury trials in Texas have been on hold for roughly a year now, with no light at the end of the tunnel.
Some grand jurors have expressed concern about being required to meet in person given the local COVID-19 situation.
Citing misleading prosecutorial tactics and inadequate defense by his lawyers, several of the jurors who issued a death sentence for Brandon Bernard are now supporting his petition to that sentence to life in prison with no possibility of release.
View more Texas jury-related news.
COVID-19 Information
Status as of 14 November 2020.
State Court Rules by Jury Type
| Criminal | In-person criminal trials by jury in justice or municipal court are suspended AT LEAST until 1 February 2021. In-person criminal trials by jury in district court, statutory or constitutional county court may be held only under limited conditions. However, remote jury trials are authorized. |
| Civil | In-person criminal trials by jury in justice or municipal court are suspended AT LEAST until 1 February 2021. In-person criminal trials by jury in district court, statutory or constitutional county court, or statutory probate court may be held only under limited conditions. However, remote jury trials are authorized. |
| Grand | Existing grand juries may continue and their terms may be extended, courts may also reassemble discharged grand juries. They may meet remotely or in-person. |
Additional information available from the Texas Judicial Branch:
- Administrative Orders affecting the courts
- Other COVID-19 information
Speedy Trial
Time Limits
- to set a trial date:
- for speedy trial:
COVID-19 Changes
Status as of 14 November 2020.
- Emergency Order 29 authorized courts to suspend any and all deadlines and procedures in all criminal cases, whether prescribed by statute, rule, or order, for a stated period ending no later than February 1, 2021
