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Council agrees to public education on jury duty after judge flags no-shows; fines are judicial authority
Summary
A local judge reported repeated no-shows for jury trials. City Attorney and staff told councilors that assessing fines is the judge's statutory authority under Texas Local Government Code sec. 62.111 (a $100–$500 range); council directed staff to run an education campaign urging residents to take jury summons seriously.
Councilors discussed how to respond after Leon Valley’s municipal court reported multiple no-shows for jury service. The mayor said Judge Morales called to report the trend and asked the city to help educate residents.
City Attorney Art advised the council that assessing fines for failure to appear or falsely claiming an exemption is judicially controlled: the Texas Local Government Code allows a fine of between $100 and $500 for failure to appear. "There is something called separation of power," Art told the council, stressing that the council should not direct the judge’s exercise of contempt or fine authority.
Staff and councilors agreed they could and should run public-education messaging to stress civic duty and possible consequences. The council asked staff to place explanatory notices in the Lion’s Roar newsletter, the municipal PEG channel and city e‑news, and recommended the court administrator or judge deliver any formal notice about fines.
No legislative action or change in city policy was taken; the item will generate city communications and be revisited as needed if the court pursues fines or hearings.
