Jurors in high-profile trial to receive nearly $27,000 each - despite spending just 5 days in court

A Texas judge presiding over a high-profile trial determined that jurors were to receive about $27,000 each despite only attending five days of court.

Last Monday, Travis County District Court Judge Karen Sage ordered that 14 jurors would be paid $26,700 for their service, according to KXAN.

However, court records showed that jurors only physically attended five days of court at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin.

The first day was jury selection August 12, 2024, followed by three trial days from August 13 to 15 of that year and then a final hearing last week.

In an order filed in the Travis County District Court, Sage ordered the Travis County Treasurer to pay each juror $20 for their first 'day of service' and then $58 'for each day thereafter,' totaling 460 days excluding holidays and weekends, per the outlet.

The trial for which the jurors will receive the five figure payouts concerned former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and Williamson County assistant district attorney Jason Nassour.

They had been accused of trying to block the release of video footage shot by a reality show crew related to the death of father-of-two Javier Ambler II after a traffic stop in March 2019.

However, the Travis County District Attorney moved to dismiss the charges on July 1, about two weeks before the judge's decision.

In total, Sage's order meant a combined $373,800 for the 12 jurors and the two alternates in the prolonged case.

In addition to the five court days, the jurors were credited for 'maintain[ing] their impartiality,' the judge wrote.

The letter initially showed that 'actions taken by county officials have consequences' had been written.

In a final version, that had been replaced with 'citizens of this county who perform their public service should be compensated.'

The jurors for the trial were first sworn in on August 13, 2024, and the trial began two days later.

Prosecutors had hit Chody and Nassour with tampering charges and accused them of trying to keep reality television footage out of the investigation into the death of Ambler, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Ambler died in March 2019 after deputies repeatedly used stun guns on him as he said that he could not breathe and 'save me.'

The police chase before Ambler's death was filmed by real-time police TV series Live PD, according to CBS News.

Sage ruled that prosecutors had to seek permission before presenting evidence about the video, which caused prosecutors to move to stay the case.

The judge rejected this, which subsequently led to them appealing her decision. In turn, this paused proceedings until the appellate court made a determination.

When this happened, Sage told the jurors that they were 'still on the jury' and had to abide by that.

'We are just on a little hiatus,' she said, according to the Statesman.

During a two-year time period, jurors were barred from discussing the case, learning about the people involved and consuming news coverage about it.

Nassour's attorney, Keith Hampton, brought up the jurors in one motion about the legal matter.

He said that the case 'uprooted both these jurors' committed service and their ordinary lives,' which were 'all still on hold.'

Sage’s order is being reviewed by District Clerk Velva Price. The funds would likely come from her budget, according to the outlet.

She has $508,000 left through the end of September for juror pay.

Meanwhile, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza pushed back on the judge’s decision about the pay the jurors should receive.

‘Jurors should be compensated for the three days they served,’ Garza said, according to the Statesman. ‘We are grateful for that service. This order, however, is absurd.’

According to Texas law, county courts are required pay jurors at least $20 for their first day of service and $58 for every day afterwards.

This compensation was reimbursement for a ‘person who reports for jury service in response to the process of a court’ for any full or partial day regarding ‘travel and other expenses.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Sage’s court, Garza's office and Price for comment.