Fourteen jurors in a high-profile Texas trial have been awarded approximately $27,000 each by a judge, despite only attending five days of court proceedings. Travis County District Court Judge Karen Sage issued the order for the jurors to be paid $26,700 apiece for their service in the case involving former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and ex-assistant district attorney Jason Nassour.
The payments, totaling $373,800 for the 12 jurors and two alternates, are based on a compensation structure of $20 for the first day of service and $58 for each subsequent day. The jurors were sworn in on August 13, 2024, with the trial commencing two days later. They attended jury selection on August 12, 2024, followed by three trial days from August 13 to 15, and a final hearing the following week. The judge's order also credited the jurors for "maintain[ing] their impartiality" throughout the lengthy proceedings.
The trial centered on charges that Chody and Nassour attempted to block the release of video footage related to the March 2019 death of Javier Ambler II. Ambler died after being repeatedly stunned with a Taser by deputies during a traffic stop, which was filmed by the television series Live PD. Prosecutors accused the former sheriff and assistant district attorney of tampering with evidence by trying to keep the footage from investigators.
However, the Travis County District Attorney's office moved to dismiss the charges on July 1, approximately two weeks before Judge Sage's compensation order. The legal proceedings had been significantly delayed by procedural disputes. Sage had ruled that prosecutors needed permission to present evidence concerning the video, a decision that led prosecutors to appeal, pausing the case. During this period, jurors were instructed to maintain their impartiality and were barred from discussing the case or consuming related media for approximately two years.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza criticized the judge's decision on juror compensation, calling the order "absurd." Garza stated that jurors should be compensated for the three days they actually served and expressed gratitude for that service, but disagreed with the substantial payout. According to Texas law, county courts are mandated to pay jurors at least $20 for their first day of service and $58 for each day thereafter, intended as reimbursement for travel and other expenses.
Velva Price, the District Clerk, is reviewing the order. Her office has approximately $508,000 remaining for juror pay through the end of September. The Daily Mail has reached out to Sage’s court, Garza's office, and Price for comment.