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Rule 234.Lists Returned to the Clerk

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 234 has the parties return their strike lists to the clerk, who calls the first twelve un-erased names in district court, or the first six in county court, to form the jury.

Full Text of Rule 234

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When the parties have made or declined to make their peremptory challenges, they shall deliver their lists to the clerk. The clerk shall, if the case be in the district court, call off the first twelve names on the lists that have not been erased; and if the case be in the county court, he shall call off the first six names on the lists that have not been erased; those whose names are called shall be the jury.
End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 234 seats the jury. After the parties make or decline their peremptory challenges, they hand their lists to the clerk. The clerk calls off the first twelve names not erased if the case is in district court, or the first six if it is in county court, and those whose names are called become the jury.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the jury finally chosen in Texas?

Under Rule 234, after strikes the clerk calls the first twelve un-erased names in district court (six in county court), and those jurors are seated.

Why do the parties hand their strike lists to the clerk under Rule 234?

So the clerk can read off the un-erased names in order and seat the jury from among them, rather than the parties choosing the jurors themselves.

What does the clerk skip when calling names off the jury list?

Any name the parties erased through a peremptory or for-cause strike. Rule 234 has the clerk call only the names left un-erased.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 234), published by the Texas Judicial Branch (txcourts.gov). Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas. The plain-English summary is original and draws on official sources. Last verified June 28, 2026. · Official source
Also known as: lists returned to the clerkcalling the juryseating the juryTRCP 234