AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The House has voted to ditch the state’s controversial “pick-a-pal” grand jury system, but the proposal’s author is predicting a fight before it clears the chamber.
Without debate Saturday evening, lawmakers approved a bill changing a system where judge-appointed commissioners nominate prospective jurors, rather than picking randomly selected residents.
The U.S. Supreme Court has criticized the current system. But small-county judges oppose changing it, worried that jury pools may get too small.
The proposal to change it has already passed the Senate, but still needs final House approval Sunday.
Sponsor and Houston Democratic Rep. Harold Dutton says he’ll accept exceptions for under 500,000-resident counties so it advances. But he says he may oppose other exceptions.
Dutton says, “We’ll see the real blow-by-blow tomorrow. Today was a sort of shadow box.”
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