200@200 : October - To Govern and Serve
Date:
1977-1987
Title:
Jury Wheel
Description:
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by an impartial jury. Juries are selected from voter registration lists, driver license records, and state-issued adult identification records. This process creates the "Master Jury Wheel" for the court from which juries are chosen. Today, computers are used to select names randomly. Each prospective juror is mailed a summons for jury service that contains instructions regarding the terms of jury service.

The term "Master Jury Wheel" originated in the days when names were placed into a large barrel-type wheel and the wheel was turned by a handle to mix them up. This wooden jury wheel was used in Allen County from 1977-1987, after which the Allen County Courts went to computer-generated jury lists.
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Jury Selection Wheel, used in Allen County 1977-1987Jury Selection Wheel, used in Allen County 1977-1987
Jury Selection Wheel, used in Allen County 1977-1987Jury Selection Wheel, used in Allen County 1977-1987
Court Jury with presiding Judge Sol A. Wood, c. 1920sCourt Jury with presiding Judge Sol A. Wood, c. 1920s