Article XVI, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution

This section was repealed November 6, 2001.

Editor Comments

The former section, adopted in 1876 and amended once, concerned juror qualification.

As adopted, it read: "The Legislature shall prescribe by law the qualification of grand and petit jurors."

In 1954, it was amended to establish both the right and duty of women to serve on juries.

In 2001, its substance was divided and transferred to Sections 13, 14 and 17 of Article V.

—Attorney Steve Smith

Recent Decisions

None.

Historic Decisions

• Glover v. Cobb, 123 S.W.2d 794, 796 (Tex.Civ.App.–Dallas 1938, ref'd) (citations omitted) ("The 19th Amendment to the Federal Constitution, adopted in August 1920, did not confer upon women the right to vote, but simply prohibited discrimination against them on account of their sex. In harmony with the 19th Amendment, the people amended sec. 2 of Art. 6 . . . the effect being to confer upon women the right of suffrage on an equality with men. However, we do not think it can be implied from the grant of the right of suffrage to women that thereby they became eligible and competent jurors; as the right to vote and competency for jury service are entirely different subjects, requiring different regulation.")

Library Resources

• Vernon's Annotated Constitution of the State of Texas (this multi-volume and up-to-date resource is available at all law libraries and many municipal libraries)

• The Texas State Constitution: A Reference Guide (this one-volume resource is available at most law libraries and some municipal libraries)

• The Constitution of the State of Texas: An Annotated and Comparative Analysis (this two-volume resource is available at most law libraries and some municipal libraries)

Online Resources

• Constitution of the State of Texas (1876) (this resource is published and maintained by the University of Texas School of Law)

• Amendments to the Texas Constitution Since 1876 (this resource is published and regularly updated by the Legislative Council)

• Reports Analyzing Proposed Amendments (this resource is published and regularly updated by the Legislative Reference Library)