Mark Anderson | July 23, 2026 | Texas Law
Failing to show up for jury duty in Dallas, TX, is a serious situation, and it could result in fines, contempt of court charges, and even jail time. While most people would rather do anything else than report for jury duty, it is an important civic duty that you should not take lightly. Jury service is at the heart of our justice system, and reporting for jury duty is a crucial part of that.
When you get a jury summons in the mail, you should not ignore it. A jury summons is not a recommendation or something that you should follow if you feel like it. Instead, this summons is a legal court order, and you could face serious consequences if you ignore it and don’t show up.
How Are Potential Jurors Selected in Texas?
Each state selects potential jurors in slightly different ways, but the way Texas draws names for jury pools is fairly straightforward. Jury trials are common in both criminal and personal injury cases, such as car accident claims and wrongful death lawsuits.
Counties in Texas select potential jurors by pulling random names from:
- Voter registration records
- Driver’s license records
- State identification records
If you receive a jury summons, it will include the date, time, and location of your service. After receiving this summons, you must respond either by being excused in advance or by appearing on the date of service. You should never simply ignore the summons and fail to show up for jury duty.
Potential Penalties for Missing Jury Duty in Texas
You might think that missing jury duty in Texas is no big deal. After all, there are likely plenty of other potential jurors who will show up at the same time, right? Will the court ever even know that you failed to show up?
The answer is yes. In fact, missing jury duty can carry some serious legal consequences. The law gives the courts fairly broad power to enforce jury duty rules, and your penalties may vary depending on your county and the reason for your absence. Some penalties may include:
- Fines: Texas law allows the court to fine you anywhere from $100 to $1,000 for missing jury duty.
- Court orders: The court could order you to appear and explain why you missed jury duty, and your penalties might be even harsher if you don’t have a good excuse.
- Contempt of court charges: Since a jury summons is a court order, ignoring it could be considered contempt of court. If the judge decides to issue contempt of court charges, you could face higher fines, community service, or even jail time.
If you accidentally miss jury duty, you should contact the court immediately to let them know. Simply ignoring a summons and failing to explain yourself is never a good idea.
How Can I Get Out of Jury Duty in Texas?
While you should never ignore a jury summons, there are some valid reasons you can miss it. Keep in mind that you still must contact the court prior to the date on your jury summons to get excused from jury duty. The court does not automatically know that you fall into one of these exceptions, and failure to show up could land you in trouble.
Some common exemptions from jury duty in Texas include:
- Being the parent or guardian of a child under 12 with no available childcare
- Being over the age of 75
- Being enrolled as a student in a public or private higher education institution
- Being the caretaker of someone who is unable to care for themselves
Even if you qualify for one of these exemptions, you may need to provide proof to the court.
Contact Anderson Injury Lawyers To Schedule a Free Consultation With a Dallas Personal Injury Attorney
If you get a jury summons in the mail in Texas, you should never just ignore it. Make sure that you either show up on your assigned date or contact the court beforehand to get excused. Failure to show up without being excused could result in fines, criminal charges, and potential jail time.
If you have questions or need help with a personal injury case, call Anderson Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with a Dallas personal injury lawyer.
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About the Author
Mark A. Anderson is the founder of Anderson Injury Lawyers and a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer—an honor held by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys. He earned his law degree from Baylor University School of Law and has spent more than 20 years helping injury victims across Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin. Mark handles cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, product liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and more. Click here to view some of the successful case results Mark has achieved for his clients.
Location: Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas
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