2008 News

December 29, 2008

Commissioners Slash Jury Commissioners’ Costs
Board Takes Action to Cut Salary, Eliminate Benefits

At their last assemblage as a board in 2008, the Bucks County commissioners convened a special public meeting with the purpose to address the issue of the elected jury commissioner position.  The three-member jury commission was established to include the president judge and two elected jury commissioners, one Republican and one Democrat. These row officers once played an integral role in ensuring a viable jury pool for the courts. Tonight in the Bucks County Courthouse community room, the commissioners called the position archaic and obsolete, pointing out that the critical task is now fulfilled electronically by court administration. 

Currently, the county expends nearly $70,000 per year on the two positions between salary and benefits. Following discussion, Commissioners Jim Cawley, chairman, Charles H. Martin and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia unanimously took action to reduce the salary of the two Bucks County jury commissioners to the statutory minimum of $10,500 each, and removed all healthcare benefits as well. All said, taxpayers will save $50,000 per year. 

That savings will increase to the full $70,000 if the commissioners have their way – they have written to the 14 members of the Bucks County state legislative delegation calling for the abolition of the positions altogether.  The commissioners do not hold the authority to eliminate the position – that authority rests with the legislature.

“Tonight, we have done everything within our power to ensure the taxpayers of Bucks County have their burden lessened.  We collectively hope that our call to our state legislators will result in the complete removal of this position, which should have gone out with the buggy whip,” noted Cawley. “We are proud to announce sponsorship in the Senate is being led by Senator Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson while sponsorship in the House is being done by newly elected Representative Frank Farry.”

Cawley states that the commonwealth has been grappling with this issue for more than 10 years, with no decisive action.  He also announced this evening that he and his fellow commissioners will enlist the help of all PA counties in lobbying the legislature. He directed that a letter be sent to each county commissioner chairman urging action in calling for the elimination of the outdated row office. Several counties with home-rule, including Allegheny, have wiped the position off their books.  The position of jury commissioner was created by law in 1867.   

The salary and benefit changes cannot by law affect the sitting jury commissioners.  They take effect when the next jury commissioners are elected and sworn in sometime in January 2010.