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Texas Code of Criminal Procedure - Article 29.012. Religious Holy Day

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Code of Criminal Procedure > Texas Code of Criminal Procedure - Article 29.012. Religious Holy Day

Art. 29.012. RELIGIOUS HOLY DAY.  (a) In this article:                         
	(1)  "Religious organization" means an organization that 
meets the standards for qualification as a religious organization 
under Section 11.20, Tax Code.
	(2)  "Religious holy day" means a day on which the tenets of a 
religious organization prohibit its members from participating in 
secular activities, such as court proceedings.
	(b)  If a juror in a criminal action is required to appear at 
a court proceeding on a religious holy day observed by the juror, 
the court or the court's designee shall recess the criminal action 
until the next day the court is in session after the conclusion of 
the holy day.
	(c)  A juror seeking a recess must file with the court before 
the final selection of the jury an affidavit stating:
	(1)  the grounds for the recess;  and                                          
	(2)  that the juror holds religious beliefs that prohibit him 
from taking part in a court proceeding on the day for which the 
recess is sought.
	(d)  An affidavit filed under Subsection (c) of this section 
is proof of the facts stated and need not be corroborated.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 589, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987;  Acts 
1987, 70th Leg., ch. 825, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

For provisions relating to parties, see art. 29.011, Religious holy 
day     

Last modified: August 11, 2007