A criminal case results when a person is accused of committing a crime. You, as a juror, must decide whether the person charged is guilty or not guilty. A civil case results from a disagreement or dispute between two or more parties. In a civil case, you, as a juror, must answer questions of disputed facts based upon the testimony and evidence admitted by the Judge. The answers to these questions are called the verdict.
Any person charged with a criminal offense or any party to a civil case has a right to a jury trial.
All parties are equal before the law and each is entitled to the same fair treatment. The Texas Supreme Court has rules to assist you in your conduct as a juror, which will be given to you by the Judge. Cases will usually be heard by juries of 6 or 12 jurors. A juror may be excused from the panel if it is shown that the juror cannot act impartially concerning the case to be heard. In addition, each side is allowed to remove a given number of jurors from the panel without having to show any reason.