Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) this week testified before the House Local Government Committee about his legislation to give Pennsylvania counties the option of abolishing the office of jury commissioner.
Farry noted that in many of Pennsylvania’s counties, the position of jury commissioner has become obsolete since technology now performs many of the functions of that office. Juries are selected from voter registration, property tax, welfare rolls and PennDOT records, making the position of jury commissioner unnecessary in many counties, but state law mandates that counties fill both the majority and minority jury commissioner positions.
“We all know the financial pinch federal and state governments are feeling,” Farry testified. “County governments are not immune to those financial realities and, as lawmakers, we should be doing all we can to help our counties meet those financial challenges. The state should give counties the individual freedom to eliminate obsolete state mandates.”
Farry said his legislation, House Bills 1206 and 1207, would give counties the option of eliminating the office of jury commissioner if a majority of the county’s governing body votes to do so.
“If a county government determines that the office of jury commissioner is not necessary, the state should not stand in their way,” Farry added. “My legislation will give counties that freedom.”
Farry also noted that his legislation does not mandate that counties eliminate the jury commissioner position. Rather, it gives counties the option of doing so if it makes sense in their jurisdiction.
“If a county still uses the jury commissioner and determines that the expenditure is still worthwhile, they are free to continue,” Farry said. “However, if a county government determines that the office of jury commissioner is obsolete, my legislation gives it the freedom to eliminate the position and save taxpayer dollars.”
Rep. Frank Farry
142nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: Sean Yeakle
House Republican Public Relations
(717) 787-3406