Department Services
After receiving a court order, issued by the President Judge, we select a list of prospective jurors. This is done randomly by a computer program, which is located in the office of the court administrator. Usually this is done once each month, and two panels of 119 to 129 names are selected primarily from the Tax Rolls of the County. However, other sources are legal and can be used. We then date stamp the Juror qualification forms and the Jury Summons forms. Address labels are placed on the Juror Qualification forms, the two forms are folded, placed in envelopes, and mailed. We are required to mail these a minimum of 30 days prior to a trial date. When the Juror Qualification forms are returned by mail, they are screened by the Jury Commissioners. The majority of returns are usually qualified for jury duty. Others may be excused for valid reasons. Some are postponed and will be called again. We have laws which must be obeyed for selecting prospective jurors, and for all other phases of juror selection. If called to serve it is both the computer and the law which select you.
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Jury Commissioners
Bill Dell Born in Mapleton Depot, Pa and attended grade school in Mapleton and High School in Mt. Union. Spent 3 years in the service attaining the rank of Staff Sgt. in the Philadelphia Defense Area Guided Missile System. After separating from the service, worked for several employers until 1961 when he went to work for General Finance Service Corporation, taking several transfers, and married Margaret Grove in Huntingdon Pa, in 1963. Was transferred to Towanda to manage the "Budget Plan Finance Co." office in 1967, and remained there until 1970 when he became office manager of Henry Dunn Inc., where he became a Vice President and Secretary of the Corporation, retiring in 1996 from Insurance, and from Real Estate Sales in 1999, after 29 years with the Corporation. Bill & Margaret reside at RD Towanda, and have one daughter, Lisa Guffey who along with husband Ken, sons Ryan & Brandon reside in Lititz, Pa. Bill enjoys working for and with the public and is available to discuss the duties of a juror with any prospective juror, should they be called to serve. Bill is active in the Lion's Club, and attends the First United Methodist Church where he presently serves as Chairman of the Trustees.
Ed Barrett Ed Barrett graduated from St. Agnes School, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, the later attended Georgetown University. Ed returned to Towanda to start a bus and taxi company and was a school bus contractor for Troy and Towanda School Districts. He served 17 ½ years on the Towanda Borough Council before being elected as a Jury Commissioner. Ed is a member of the local Knights of Columbus, serviced as trustee of the Towanda Elks #2191, a member of the American Legion Post #42, and also serves as a disaster volunteer for the American Red Cross.
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