AOSC 20-40 | IN RE: JUROR SELECTION PLAN: FRANKLIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

Section 40.225, Florida Statutes, provides for the selection of jurors to serve within the county by “an automated electronic system.” Pursuant to that section, the chief judge of the circuit must review and consent to the juror selection process, and the clerk of the circuit court must submit to the Supreme Court of Florida a description of the method for selecting jurors. Section 40.225(3), Florida Statutes, charges the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with the review and approval of the proposed juror selection process, hereinafter referred to as the “juror selection plan.”

The use of technology in the selection of jurors has been customary within Florida for more than 20 years and the Supreme Court has developed standards necessary to ensure that juror selection plans satisfy statutory, methodological, and due process requirements. The Court has tasked the Office of the State Courts Administrator with evaluating proposed plans for compliance with those standards.

By letter dated February 7, 2020, the Clerk of the Court for Franklin County submitted the Franklin County Juror Pool Selection Plan for review and approval in accordance with section 40.225(2), Florida Statutes. The proposed plan reflects changes to both hardware and software used for juror pool selection in Franklin County.

The Office of the State Courts Administrator has completed an extensive review of the proposed Franklin County Juror Selection Plan, including an evaluation of statutory, due process, statistical, and mathematical elements associated with selection of jury candidates. The plan meets established requirements for approval.

Accordingly, the attached Franklin County Juror Pool Selection Plan, received on February 12, 2020, from The Honorable Marcia M. Johnson, Clerk of Court for Franklin County, and approved by The Honorable Jonathan Sjostrom, Chief Judge of the Second Circuit, is hereby approved for use.

DONE AND ORDERED at Tallahassee, Florida, on June 10, 2020.

	Chief Justice Charles T. Canady
ATTEST:
John A. Tomasino, Clerk of Court

Charles T. Canady, Chief Justice
John A. Tomasino, Clerk of Court