Harris County jury service is run by the District Clerk's Office1. If you get a summons you must pre-register online2, and you will be emailed where and when to report3. Jurors are paid $30 for the first day and $58 for each day after4.
The Harris County jury office
Your path through Harris County jury service
- Pre-registerOnline, with the HC Number on your summons or your Texas driver's license number and your last name2.
- Claim an exemptionDuring pre-registration; not by phone7.
- Watch your emailYou will be told when and where to report3.
- ReportDowntown jurors go to the El Franco Lee Public Service Plaza, 1201 Congress3.
Rescheduling and excuses
After pre-registering you can reschedule online twice; after that, call the jury office. Once you pick a new date you cannot move it earlier11. For a medical exemption, send a sworn affidavit with your name, address, the reason and how long it will last, and attach a statement from a physician12. Other special circumstances go to the judge, at service or by email; Harris County says being a sole business owner or having an employer that will not pay is not grounds for an excuse13.
You may claim an exemption if you served as a trial juror in Harris County within the three years before the date you are scheduled to appear, and the county has not rebuilt its jury wheel since you served14. It does not cover federal or municipal service15. If you're unsure whether your prior service qualifies, call the Harris County Jury Assembly at (713) 755-63926 and follow the instructions on your summons.
Questions
Where do I park?
Downtown jurors park free in the 1401 Congress garage if they bring the ticket in for validation. It fills early and has no in-and-out privileges16.
Can I take METRO?
Yes. Rides to jury service are free when you show a copy of your emailed assignment17.
What happens at security?
Can I work while I wait?
The jury assembly room has free Wi-Fi, and you may bring a laptop20.
My summons is from a Justice of the Peace court.
Contact that court for instructions21.
Federal jury service in Houston
A federal summons for a Harris County resident comes from the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, at the Bob Casey U.S. Courthouse22. It is separate from county service. Federal jury duty explained.
What to do next
- Pre-register online as soon as your summons arrives2: hcdistrictclerk.com/jury
- Bring a copy of your emailed assignment if you plan to ride METRO17.
- Need sign language or captioning? Ask at least a day before6.
Related
Jury duty in TexasStatewide rules that apply in Harris County.Texas jury duty payMinimums and county rates.Dallas County jury dutyDallas's jury office.
Sources
22 official sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from
- Harris County District Clerk - Juror Resources (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services web page."The Office of the Harris County District Clerk is dedicated to improving the jury service process and experience for all prospective jurors, and to promoting the value of jury service to our county court system and to our community."
- Harris County District Clerk - Jury Service in Harris County (login template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services pre-registration page."If you have received a jury summons you must pre-register below. You will need to enter your HC Number found on your summons or your Texas Driver's License number and your last name to begin the process."
- Harris County District Clerk - About Jury (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page."After you pre-register, you will receive an email on when and where to report for Jury Service. | If you have been assigned to downtown for your jury service, you are to report to the El Franco Lee Public Service Plaza located at 1201 Congress."
- Harris County District Clerk - Getting Prepared (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page (What do I get paid?); Tex. Gov't Code ch. 61."Jurors will receive $30 for the first day of service and $58 per day after the first day until released. Jurors serving more than one day of jury service will be compensated at a rate calculated by the State Comptroller based upon available state funding."
- Harris County District Clerk - Hours and Locations (Contact Us). Harris County District Clerk, Hours and Locations page."Jury Assembly | 1201 Congress | Houston, TX 77002 | Jury Assembly, Language Affadavits, Resets, Jury Pay, Jury Parking, Juror Resources"
- Harris County District Clerk - About Jury (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page (Assistive Listening Devices)."Sign language and captioning are also provided upon request. Please contact Harris County Jury Assembly at (713) 755-6392 or via e-mail at jury@hcdistrictclerk.com at least one day before you are scheduled to appear."
- Harris County District Clerk - Jury Service in Harris County (login template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services pre-registration page; Tex. Gov't Code §§ 62.102, 62.106 (as listed on the page)."Disqualifications and exemptions can be claimed during the pre-registration process."
- Harris County Auditor - Juror Pay Card Review. Harris County Auditor, Juror Pay Card Review memo (Apr. 29, 2024)."On the day of jury service, the District Clerk's Office physically distributes pay cards to jurors; if a juror chooses to receive a check instead of a pay card, the check is mailed by the County Treasurer's Office."
- Tex. Gov't Code § 61.001 – Reimbursement of Expenses of Jurors and Prospective Jurors. Tex. Gov't Code § 61.001(f)."If a check, instrument, or other method of payment authorized under Section 113.048, Local Government Code, representing a reimbursement under this section is not presented for payment or redeemed before the 90th day after it is issued: (1) the instrument or other method of payment is considered forfeited and is void; and (2) the money represented by the instrument or other method of payment may be placed or retained in the county's jury fund, the county's general fund, or any other fund in which county funds can be legally placed, at the discretion of the commissioners court."
- Harris County District Clerk - Donating to Charity (Jury Services template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page; Tex. Gov't Code § 61.003."If you choose to do so, you can donate your juror pay ($30 for the first day of service and $58 per day after the first day until released) to charitable organizations approved the State of Texas and the Harris County Commissioners Court."
- Harris County District Clerk - Jury pre-registration Reschedule step (template). Harris County District Clerk, online pre-registration reschedule step."Warning: Once you have selected a new service date you cannot select another date that is before the date you have selected. You can reschedule online 2 times."
- Harris County District Clerk - About Jury (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page (Medical Exemptions)."To claim a medical exemption , you must submit a sworn affidavit to the court stating your name and address and the reason for and the duration of the requested exemption. ... You must also attach to the affidavit a statement from a physician."
- Harris County District Clerk - Getting Prepared (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page (Getting Prepared)."Any special circumstances will need to be brought up with the judge at the time of jury service or by emailing jury@hcdistrictclerk.com and your request will be forwarded to the judge for consideration. The law does not allow persons to be excused because they are the sole owner of a business, nor because their employer will not pay for jury service."
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.106 – Exemption from Jury Service. Tex. Gov't Code § 62.106(a)."(a) A person qualified to serve as a petit juror may establish an exemption from jury service if the person: (1) is 75 years of age or older; (2) has legal custody of a child younger than 12 years of age and the person's service on the jury requires leaving the child without adequate supervision; (3) is a student of a public or private secondary school; (4) is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education; (5) is an officer or an employee of the senate, the house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state government; (6) is summoned for service in a county with a population of at least 200,000, unless that county uses a jury plan under Section 62.011 and the period authorized under Section 62.011(b)(5) exceeds two years, and the person has served as a petit juror in the county..."
- Harris County District Clerk - Juror General Information. Harris County District Clerk, Juror General Information page; Tex. Gov't Code § 62.106."(This exemption does not apply to Federal and Municipal Court jury service.)"
- Harris County District Clerk - Getting Prepared (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page (Where do I go and where do I park?)."Free parking will be provided if you park in the 1401 Congress parking garage. Please arrive early to secure a parking spot as this garage tends to fill up early. You must bring your ticket in with you in order to have it validated. Entrances to this garage are located on both La Branch and Austin streets. There are no in and out privileges."
- Harris County District Clerk - About Jury (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page (Ride Metro)."METRO provides free transportation to jury service by showing a copy of your emailed assignment."
- Harris County District Clerk - Juror Prohibited Items. Harris County District Clerk, Juror Restricted Items page."All visitors to all Harris County Courts will be required to undergo security screening upon entry, including removing shoes, emptying pockets, and going through metal detectors and x-ray machines. If warranted, you may also be subject to search by a hand-held device or pat-down."
- Harris County District Clerk - Juror Prohibited Items. Harris County District Clerk, Juror Restricted Items page."The following items are prohibited in all courts and will be confiscated: | The following items, if confiscated, will NOT be returned. | Disposable Lighters | Torch Lighters | Fireworks | Aerosol Cans"
- Harris County District Clerk - Getting Prepared (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page (What should I bring?)."Free wireless internet is available to you in the Jury Assembly Room, so you may want to bring a laptop with you to use while you wait on the jury selection process."
- Harris County District Clerk - Juror Resources (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page."If you have received a summons to a Justice of the Peace Court, contact the court at http://jp.hctx.net/ for further instructions."
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas - Houston Division. S.D. Tex. Houston Division page; 28 U.S.C. § 124(b)(2)."Counties: | Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Wharton"
Reviewed by Roger K. Neustadt, JD, attorney admitted in Georgia. Verified November 10, 2026.
Roger K. Neustadt is admitted in Georgia; pages about other states and federal courts are general information checked against official sources. How we check every rule: editorial policy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
This page explains the law in general terms and is not legal advice. Jury Duty Explained is not affiliated with any court. Your summons and your court's instructions control, so check them first.