Fourteen jurors in a high-profile Travis County criminal case are set to receive $26,700 each after a court order extended their service period for nearly two years.
Travis County District Court Judge Karen Sage issued the payment order on July 13 following the dismissal of charges against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and Williamson County assistant district attorney Jason Nassour.
The case involved an extended legal pause after an appeal delayed proceedings shortly after the trial began in 2024. Although jurors physically attended court for only a few days, the judge determined that their obligation to remain impartial continued during the delay.
Case
The trial involved allegations against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and Williamson County assistant district attorney Jason Nassour.
Court records show that jurors were sworn in on Aug. 13, 2024, with the trial beginning two days later on Aug. 15. On the first day of trial, prosecutors requested a stay in the proceedings.
Judge Sage denied the request, leading prosecutors to appeal the decision. The appeal paused the case while the appellate court reviewed the matter.
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office later moved to dismiss the charges on July 6, according to court records.
Delay
Because of the appeal, jurors remained under instructions to preserve their impartiality while waiting for the case to continue.
Judge Sage wrote that the court had no choice but to instruct jurors to maintain their neutrality as if the case was temporarily paused for a short recess.
The jurors were eventually released from their duties nearly two years after being selected.
During that period, jurors were instructed not to discuss the case, research individuals involved, or follow media coverage related to the proceedings.
Payment
Texas law requires jurors to receive compensation for jury service. State law sets a minimum payment of $20 for the first day and $58 for each additional day of service.
The compensation is described as reimbursement for travel and other expenses for days when jurors attend court in response to a court order.
Judge Sage ordered that each juror receive $20 for the first service day and $58 for each following day, counting 460 days of service after the initial payment period.
This resulted in a payment of $26,700 per juror.
| Payment Details | Amount |
|---|---|
| Number of jurors | 14 |
| Payment per juror | $26,700 |
| Total estimated payout | $373,800 |
| Physical court attendance | 5 days |
Attendance
Court records indicate that jurors physically appeared in court for five days.
Those dates included jury selection, three trial days, and the July 13 dismissal hearing.
The remaining service period involved maintaining legal instructions related to the case rather than appearing in court.
Judge Sage’s order counted the extended period when calculating compensation but excluded holidays and weekends.
Budget
The payout will have a significant effect on Travis County’s jury fee budget.
According to the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget, officials allocated $698,605 for legally required trial jury fees. The county also budgeted $156,749 for grand jury fees.
The $373,800 payment for this case represents more than half of the trial jury fee allocation.
Previous county spending on jury fees was lower. Travis County reported spending $253,700 in fiscal year 2025 and $246,627 in fiscal year 2024.
Review
The payment order has raised questions about how jury service should be compensated when legal delays keep jurors under court restrictions for extended periods.
A traditional interpretation of jury compensation focuses on days when jurors physically attend court. However, Judge Sage’s order considered the continued obligation placed on jurors during the appeal period.
The order noted that citizens who perform public service should receive compensation, though language in an earlier draft stating that “actions taken by county officials have consequences” was removed from the final version.
Reimbursement
The Texas State Comptroller may provide partial reimbursement to counties for jury expenses.
If requested and approved, the state can reimburse counties at a rate of $14 for a juror’s first day and $52 for later days of service.
The reimbursement process occurs quarterly and could reduce the financial impact on Travis County.
The case highlights the challenges courts face when lengthy appeals delay proceedings and leave jurors with ongoing responsibilities. As legal reviews continue, the issue may contribute to broader discussions about how jury compensation should work during extended court delays.
FAQs
Why are jurors getting $26,700?
They were compensated for extended jury service obligations.
How many jurors were paid?
Fourteen jurors received the payment.
How long was the case delayed?
The appeal delayed proceedings for nearly two years.
How many days were jurors in court?
Jurors attended court for five days.
Can Texas reimburse the county?
The state may reimburse part of the jury costs.
