Pocono News Section

Lackawanna Co. Will Use New System to Pick Jurors

Lackawanna Co. Will Use New System to Pick Jurors - Monday, June 16, 2008 at 09:51AM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo WYOU TV News
Monday, Jun 16, 2008 @ 09:51am EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANA COUNTY- Lackawanna County will be taking advantage of a new state law to pick the way it selects prospective jurors next year.

President Judge Chester Harhut said he and his fellow judges have decided to use the provisions of Senate Bill 116 which allows counties to use voter registration lists, tax assessment rolls, school and university records, tax lists and even telephone directories to pick potential jurors.

Currently prospective jurors are selected from State Department of Transportation records showing all residents with driver's licenses.

Judge Harhut said the new system will increase the size of potential jury pools and should make those pools more representative of the entire population.

The new selection process will be used as of January 2009. Counties have the option of using the new system or staying with the selection process that uses Driver's Licenses as the basis for potential juror selections.