Opinion ID: 853071
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Statutory Standard

Text: The method by which jury pools are selected in Indiana is governed by statute. Indiana Code section 33-4-5-2(c) allows jury commissioners to use a computerized jury selection system, but requires that the system employed must be fair and may not violate the rights of persons with respect to the impartial and random selection of prospective jurors. This Court long ago held that the purpose of the jury selection statute is to ensure that the method used to select a jury is not arbitrary and does not result in the systematic exclusion of any group. Shack v. State, 259 Ind. 450, 459-60, 288 N.E.2d 155, 162 (1972). Nevertheless, there is no requirement that any particular segment of the population be represented on every jury, Daniels v. State, 274 Ind. 29, 35, 408 N.E.2d 1244, 1247 (1980), and completely random selection of jurors is not required as long as the system used is impartial and not arbitrary. State ex rel. Burns v. Sharp, 271 Ind. 344, 348, 393 N.E.2d 127, 130 (1979). Minor irregularities will not constitute reversible error unless there is a showing of substantial prejudice to the accused's rights as a result of the irregularities. Porter v. State, 271 Ind. 180, 201, 391 N.E.2d 801, 816 (1979), overruled on other grounds. Despite these somewhat flexible standards, an accused is entitled to a trial by a jury selected in substantial compliance with the statute, and if there is a lack of substantial compliance, the accused need not show actual prejudice. Cross v. State, 272 Ind. 223, 226, 397 N.E.2d 265, 268 (1979); Wireman v. State, 432 N.E.2d 1343, 1354 (Ind.1982) (Hunter, J., dissenting); Rogers v. State, 428 N.E.2d 70, 72 (Ind.Ct.App.1981); Bagnell v. State, 413 N.E.2d 1072, 1075 (Ind.Ct. App.1980).