WilCo Proclaims May 20-24 As 'Juror Appreciation Week'

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The Williamson County Commissioners Court proclaimed the week of May 20 to 24 as Juror Appreciation Week to honor and thank citizens who serve as jurors, officials said Tuesday.

“The work of juries is extremely important to the function of our democracy and the protection of our liberties and freedoms, and Williamson County wants to recognize those efforts from those who serve,” Williamson County District Clerk Lisa David said in a prepared statement.

County officials described Jury duty an opportunity to witness and experience the judicial system firsthand. "Serving on a jury is a privilege that many do not get to experience," officials added. In Williamson County, David said, an average of 800 jury duty summons are sent out each Monday, unless a holiday falls within the week. The ratio of those that appear is between 35 and 40 percent, which David characterized as a very good turnout.

“I have had individual citizens call and ask if they could come serve on a jury,” David said. “I wished I could say yes, please come I would be glad to have them, but the selection process does not work that way unfortunately.”

Instead, jurors are selected randomly from a database provided by the Secretary of State’s Office and downloaded into the county’s jury program. The names are from a list of registered voters and citizens with a Texas driver’s license that live in the county.

Jury Appreciation Week was created by legislation passed in 2015 by the 84th Legislature and was first celebrated in 2016. The week is dedicated to honoring those who give of their time to participate as jurors in our judicial system. “Although the language in the legislation was simple and short, it spoke volumes about the importance of the jury system and the individual citizens that serve as jurors,” David observed.

Top photo: (left to right) County Judge Bill Gravell, 26th District Court Judge Donna King and 368th District Court Judge Rick Kennon (back row) and District Clerk Lisa David and Commissioner Pct. 1 Terry Cook (middle row) and Sheriff Robert Chody (front) show their appreciation to jurors showing up for jury duty on May 20 during Juror Appreciation Week.