BAILIFFS FOR GENERAL PANELS

(a) Except as provided by this section, the sheriff of a county that uses an interchangeable general jury panel shall assign one of his deputies to take care of the persons on the panel, provide for their wants, and call them as their services are required by the judges of the courts using the interchangeable jury panel. The assigned deputy has general control of the persons on the panel when they are not in actual service as jurors. (b) In a county with at least nine district courts, a majority of the district judges, with the approval of the commissioners court, may appoint a bailiff, and the assistant or deputy bailiffs that the judges consider necessary, to be in charge of the central jury room and the general panel. If the district judges in such a county appoint a bailiff and the necessary assistant or deputy bailiffs, the sheriff may not assign a deputy to the central jury room and the general panel. If the district judges do not appoint a bailiff to be in charge of the central jury room and the general panel, the sheriff shall perform the duties in connection with the jury room and general panel as provided by law. (c) A bailiff or assistant or deputy bailiff appointed by the district judges serves a two-year term beginning January 1 of each odd-numbered year. The salary of each is set by the commissioners court on the recommendation of the district judges. (d) The bailiffs and assistant and deputy bailiffs appointed by the district judges shall take care of the general panel and perform the duties in connection with the supervision of the central jury room and the general panel that are required by the district judges. They may notify prospective jurors whose names are drawn from the jury wheel or selected by other means provided by law to appear for jury service and may serve notices on absent jurors as directed by the district judge having control of the general jury panel.