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Barry County commissioners vote to abolish county jury board
Summary
The Barry County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution #25-12 on April 7, 2025, eliminating the county jury board and transferring jury-management duties to court staff under a Trial Court partnership; the measure passed 5–1.
The Barry County Board of Commissioners voted April 7 to abolish the county jury board, adopting Resolution #25-12 effective immediately.
Commissioner Catherine Getty moved the resolution and Commissioner Bob Teunessen supported it. The board voted with five members in favor (Marsha Bassett, Catherine Getty, David Hatfield, David Jackson and Bob Teunessen) and one opposed (Jon Smelker); Commissioners Mike Callton and Bruce Campbell were absent. The resolution cites Public Act 236 of 1961, a partnership agreement in which the Barry County Trial Court assumed management oversight of court operations, and the Trial Court's Jury System Management Policy as the rationale for transferring statutorily required duties to court staff.
The resolution states the Trial Court and county clerk entered a partnership agreement effective Sept. 23, 2024, and that the Trial Court established a Jury System Management Policy on Feb. 25, 2025. The board also noted that House Bill 4091, pending in the Michigan Legislature, would eliminate jury boards statewide if enacted; the resolution frames abolition as consistent with the court's current practice and the pending state-level proposal.
By abolishing the jury board, the county resolves that court staff will carry out duties previously assigned to the jury board. The minutes do not include additional discussion or a public comment response recorded on the item.
The action was recorded in the meeting minutes and the resolution document; the board signed and adopted Resolution #25-12 on April 7, 2025.
