Jury Information

Service at Municipal Court

Jurors are requested to report to Grand Prairie Municipal Court, 200 West Main St. at 8 a.m. Before reporting, please fill out the Juror Questionnaire.

Free parking is available in the Municipal Court parking lot west of the Municipal Court facility. Jurors should bring with them the jury summons they received in the mail.

All jurors in attendance for jury duty will be paid $6.00 for each day they serve. Municipal Court jury trials rarely exceed one day. Jurors will be given a juror verification form for employers should one be needed.

Jury trials are held on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month at 8 a.m.

Jury Selection

To begin a jury trial, a panel of prospective jurors is called into the courtroom. The panel members are sworn to answer questions about their qualifications to sit as jurors in the case. The questioning is called voir dire. Voir dire is a way for the parties to select a fair and impartial jury.

Under the justice system, jurors may be questioned by each of party before selection is made. For example, the prosecutor may ask you questions to see if you are connected to the trial or if you have any prejudice or bias toward anyone in the trial. Other questions will determine whether any panel member has a prejudice or a feeling that might influence them in rendering a fair verdict.

A juror may be excused from the panel if it is shown that the juror cannot act impartially concerning the case to be heard. In addition, each side is allowed to remove up to 3 panel members without having to show any reason, as long as the reason is race and/or gender neutral. The trial jury will be the first six of the remaining jurors on the panel. 

Statutory Qualifications

(Ch. 480, Sec. 62.102 Government Code) A person is qualified to serve as a petit juror if that person:

  • Is at least 18 years of age;
  • Is a United States citizen and a resident of the city.
  • Is of sound mind and good moral character;
  • Is able to read and write;
  • Has not been convicted of a felony or theft offense;
  • Is not under indictment or other legal accusation of any theft or felony;

Statutory Exemptions

(Ch. 480 Sec. 62.106 Government Code)

 A person may claim exemption if that person:

  • Is over 75 years of age;
  • Has legal custody of a child or children younger than ten years of age and serving on the jury requires leaving the child or children without adequate supervisions;
  • Is a student of a public or private secondary school;
  • Is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education;
  • Is an officer or an employee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or any agency in the legislative branch of state government during legislative session;
  • Is a primary caretaker of a person who is an invalid unable to care for him/herself (not employed out of the home);
  • Has served as a petit juror in a county with a population of at least 250,000 during the three-year period preceding the date of the jury summons.

Rescheduling Jury Service

 If you wish to reschedule your jury service, please submit the following information:

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Date of jury service
  • Time of jury service
  • Reason for rescheduling jury service

The court accepts requests by mail to reschedule jury service. If you wish to claim an exemption or disqualification, please do so in writing by mail. Exemptions and disqualifications will not be handled by telephone.