Commissioners called for jury duty
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Being called for one civic duty could cause two Washington County Commissioners to postpone some of their other public duties.
County Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan and Larry Maggi have been summoned for jury duty April 9-20. During that time period the commissioners are scheduled to hold a prison board meeting, an agenda meeting, and their regular monthly business meeting.
“If both of us are selected, we will have to postpone those meetings,” Vaughan said.
“If we’re both called, a lot of meetings that have been scheduled and advertised will have to be rescheduled and re-advertised,” Maggi said.
Since the board of commissioners consists of three people, the absence of both Maggi and Vaughan would leave the board without a quorum.
“Both Larry and I have been summoned at the exact same time,” Vaughan said. “I filled out my questionnaire, put it in the mail and will report as told.”
Vaughan said she has never been called for jury duty before and she is looking forward to the experience.
“I’ll be learning even more about how the court operates on a day-to-day basis and what others who have served before me have gone through,” Vaughan said.
Maggi, who served 25 years as a Pennsylvania State Trooper and six years as the county sheriff before being elected commissioner eight years ago, was called to serve once before and was seated on the jury for a civil trial at that time.
Maggi said he was surprised he was selected, given his law enforcement background.
Vaughan noted that her husband is retired from the military police.
In February the commissioners voted to abolish the elected position of jury commissioner as allowed by a change in state law enacted in December.
According to the Washington County Jury Commissioners website, the selection process is random.
“A computer selects your name randomly from a master list which contains names of Washington County registered voters and PA licensed drivers,” the site states in its question and answer area.
“One can speculate if this is highly coincidental or something more,” Vaughan said.
Neither Democratic Jury Commissioner Judith Fisher nor Republican Jury Commissioner Richard Zimmerman could be reached for comment. Their positions will be abolished with the completion of their terms in December.