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jury commissioner

October 25, 2009

Indictment complicating ’09 election

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Luzerne County voters will choose a Republican and a Democratic jury commissioner on Nov. 3, though the Democratic contender – Gerald Bonner – has been charged in the judicial scandal.

Bonner, 66, of Mountain Top, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 1 on a charge of corrupt receipt of a reward for official action for his alleged role in handling a kickback delivered to a fellow county housing authority member.

Bonner has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Bonner’s case won’t be adjudicated before the election because his trial is at the end of November and may be pushed back.

County Election Bureau Director Leonard Piazza said he will have to see what happens with the charges if Bonner is elected and discuss the issue with the county board of election and its solicitor.

Incumbent Republican Jury Commissioner Frank Semanski is also seeking re-election.

The county’s two jury commissioners are paid about $10,000 per year plus benefits. Their work has essentially decreased to attending one meeting per year because juror lists are compiled by computers using a driver’s license database.

The county’s jury selection commission held its annual meeting in September. Bonner did not attend because he said he did not receive enough notice of the meeting, though the president judge said the federal indictment against Bonner would have prevented him from voting anyway.

State legislators have been discussing legislation that would allow counties to eliminate jury commissioner posts. The post may also be eliminated if a home rule study commission drafts a new proposed charter governing county government.

Semanski has said he answers questions from the public about jury duty and "how the system works" in addition to attending the annual meeting.

Information about jury duty is supplied in a pamphlet, on the court Web site and by court staffers, but Semanski said some people are more comfortable approaching him.

Jury commissioners have no authority to excuse people from jury duty. That decision is made by court administration. Prospective jurors may be excused if they are elderly, have health problems or financial struggles that prevent them from missing work, officials say.

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.

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