Rule 280.Presiding Juror of Jury
Last amended April 1, 1984 · Last verified June 28, 2026
In one sentenceRule 280 requires each jury to appoint one of its own members as presiding juror, the term that replaced the older title of foreman in the 1984 amendment.
Full Text of Rule 280
Each jury shall appoint one of their body presiding juror.
End
Plain-English Summary
Rule 280 is a single line: each jury appoints one of its own members to serve as presiding juror. The 1984 amendment replaced the older term “foreman” with “presiding juror.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the jury's deliberations in Texas?
The presiding juror, whom the jury appoints from its own members under Rule 280.
Who chooses the presiding juror in a Texas trial?
The jury itself. Rule 280 requires each jury to appoint one of its own members to serve as presiding juror — the court does not select this person.
Is 'foreman' still the official term for a Texas jury leader?
No. Rule 280 was amended in 1984 to replace “foreman” with “presiding juror,” the term the rule now uses for the jury member the jury appoints to lead it.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 280), 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: presiding jurorforemanjury forepersonTRCP 280