Do You Get Paid for Jury Duty in Texas? Compensation Rules
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Texas Bar verified. Reggie London (Texas Bar No. 24043514) and Njeri London (Texas Bar No. 24043266) are the co-founding partners of L and L Law Group, PLLC — based at 5899 Preston Rd, Suite 101 in Frisco, Texas (Collin County), with many 5-star Google reviews, and available 24/7 for criminal defense consultations.
Table of Contents
Texas state court compensation
Texas Government Code §61.001 minimum:
- $6 for first day. Statutory minimum reporting day
- $40 per day for each subsequent day. If selected and serving
- Many counties pay more. Local supplements common
- Mileage reimbursement sometimes. Varies by county
- Parking reimbursement sometimes. Particularly in major cities
- Lunch sometimes provided. During long trials
County-specific rates
| County | First Day | Subsequent Days |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $6 | $40 |
| Harris (Houston) | $6 | $40-$60 |
| Tarrant (Fort Worth) | $6 | $40-$50 |
| Bexar (San Antonio) | $10 | $40-$50 |
| Travis (Austin) | $10-$20 | $40-$58 |
| Collin | $6 | $40 |
| Denton | $6 | $40 |
Rates change periodically; check with specific county. Some counties have raised local supplements in recent years.
Federal court compensation
- $50 per day. Federal jurors
- $60 per day after 30 days. Long trials
- Travel expenses reimbursed. Mileage
- Subsistence allowance. When travel substantial
- Parking reimbursement
- Higher rates than state court
- Federal employees continue regular pay. During service
Employer obligations in Texas
Texas Labor Code §122.001:
- Cannot fire employee for jury service. Wrongful termination
- Cannot demote, suspend, or take adverse action. For jury service
- Damages available. If violation occurs
- NOT required to pay during jury service. Texas law doesn't require
- Many employers do pay. As benefit
- Some require notice. Of jury summons
- Some require turnover of jury pay. When continuing regular pay
- Federal employees protected separately. Federal law
Tax treatment
- Jury duty pay is taxable income. Federal and state (Texas has no income tax)
- Report on tax return. Form 1099-MISC or similar
- Deductible if turned over to employer. If employer required full pay-over
- Modest amounts. Usually small tax impact
Have a Texas legal question?
Call L and L Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. We handle criminal defense across Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
Call (972) 370-5060In our practice defending Texas criminal cases, we have represented clients in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant County criminal courts on the full Texas Penal Code and Health & Safety Code spectrum. Reggie's prosecutor background in Dallas County means we know the State's evidentiary playbook; Njeri's trial-trained motion practice anchors the suppression-driven defense work.
Key Legal Terms
- Penalty Group
- Texas Health & Safety Code § 481.102-481.105 classification of controlled substances by abuse potential and accepted medical use. Determines weight tiers and punishment ranges.
- Article 38.23
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure exclusionary rule. Evidence obtained in violation of any federal or Texas constitutional or statutory provision is inadmissible against the accused.
- Aggregation
- Texas H&S § 481.002(5) rule that the total weight of any controlled substance, including adulterants and dilutants, counts toward the offense weight tier.
- 3g Offense
- CCP Article 42A.054 list of offenses ineligible for judicial probation and requiring 50% sentence served before parole eligibility (formerly Article 42.12 § 3g).
- Pretrial Diversion
- Pre-charge alternative under CCP Article 32.02 in which the prosecution agrees to dismiss charges upon successful completion of conditions (counseling, community service, restitution).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you get paid for Texas jury duty?
Texas Government Code §61.001 minimums: $6 first day reporting, $40 per subsequent day if selected and serving. Many counties pay more. Some (Travis, Austin) pay $10-$20 first day, $40-$58 subsequent. Federal court pays $50 per day; $60 after 30 days.
Does my employer have to pay me during Texas jury duty?
No — Texas law doesn't require employer pay during jury service. Many employers do pay as benefit. Employer cannot fire, demote, or take adverse action for jury service (Texas Labor Code §122.001). Damages available for violations.
Is Texas jury duty pay taxable?
Yes — taxable income federal and state (Texas has no state income tax). Report on tax return; receive 1099-MISC or similar. Deductible if required to turn over to employer who continued full salary. Generally modest amounts with small tax impact.
How much does federal jury duty pay in Texas?
$50 per day federal jurors; $60 after 30 days for long trials. Travel expenses, parking, subsistence allowance reimbursed. Federal employees continue regular pay during service. Higher than state court rates.
Can my employer fire me for jury duty in Texas?
No — Texas Labor Code §122.001 prohibits firing, demotion, suspension, or adverse action for jury service. Wrongful termination claim available. Damages available. Federal employees protected separately by federal law.
