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For Immediate Release
January 15, 2009
Contact: Sally Kohr
(717) 787-4651

Alloway Cosponsors Legislation to Eliminate Jury Commissioner Position

HARRISBURG – The position of jury commissioner in Franklin County could be eliminated under legislation cosponsored by Senator Richard Alloway II (R-33).

Alloway said that the position of jury commissioner has become obsolete in many counties since technology does most of the work of finding jurors and educating them about the judicial process.

"Since jurors are selected from voter registration rolls or PennDOT records and instructed by videos, jury commissioners have become an unnecessary position in many counties" Alloway said. "With many county governments feeling the financial pinch of a turbulent economy, this legislation would provide an important cost savings when these counties need it most."

While the bill would not eliminate the position immediately, it would give voters the option to approve the elimination of the position. The legislation would give the county the option of adopting a resolution to place the measure on the ballot for voter approval or empowering the citizens to initiate a referendum to remove the position.

If approved by the voters, the position would be eliminated at the end of the current commissioners' term in office.

The legislation will be introduced by Senator Mike Folmer (R-48) and will apply to all Counties of the Fifth Class, including Blair, Centre, Franklin, Lawrence, Lycoming, Mercer, Monroe and Northumberland. Counties of the Fifth Class have populations between 94,999 and 145,000.