Travis County DA files motion to revoke $27K payout to jurors over dropped case
AUSTIN, Texas - The Travis County District Attorney's office is filing a motion to revoke payouts to jurors in the dropped evidence tampering case against former Williamson County officials Robert Chody and Jason Nassour.
The 299th District Court approved a juror compensation order proposed by Nassour's defense team that would have paid 12 jurors and two alternates nearly $27,000 each.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Jurors to receive nearly $27K payout from Travis County after case was dropped
What they're saying:
The DA's office is arguing that the Court has a ministerial duty to revoke the July 13 order, saying that the Court lacked jurisdiction and acted outside the provisions of law.
The July 13 order came after the evidence tampering case against Chody and Nassour was dismissed.
The case was in connection with the 2019 in-custody death of Javier Ambler, whose arrest and death were recorded during a taping of the reality show "Live PD." He was tased while going through heart failure.
Jurors to receive thousands after case was dropped
After three days of work in a criminal case that took years to wrap up, 12 jurors and two alternates will each be getting nearly $27,000 from Travis County. It stems from the evidence tampering case against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and county attorney Jason Nassour
After the dismissal order was signed, Nassour's defense team proposed an "Order of Juror Compensation" directing the county treasurer to pay each juror for the three days they reported for service, as well as the 457 days from the time the court was recessed to when the order of dismissal was signed.
The DA's office argues that the Court's jurisdiction over the case was terminated after the order of dismissal was signed, meaning the Court did not have the authority to approve the compensation order.
The office also says that the Court is not authorized to compensate jurors for days they did not report to and attend court in person, per Texas Government Code.
The Source: Information in this report comes from the Travis County DA's office and previous reporting by FOX 7 Austin