MACON, Ga. (AP) - Lawyers for a Macon man charged with murder in the 2006 death of a sheriff's deputy are challenging Georgia's new method for selecting jurors.
The challenge is one of four in the state and could be the first to result in a judge's ruling, The Telegraph of Macon reported.
The case involves Damon Jolly, who faces the murder charge in the killing of Bibb County Deputy Joseph Whitehead.
Before July 1, lists of potential jurors were created on the county level by jury commissioners. Now, the state creates a master list of potential jurors using driver's license and voting registration records.
Jolly's lawyers maintain in court documents that the new jury selection method underrepresents black people, women, young adults aged 18 to 30, Latinos and Asian-Americans.
Bibb County Superior Court Judge Tillman E. "Tripp" Self III set an Oct. 25 date to hear testimony regarding the challenge from Jolly's lawyers.
Jolly's lawyers also filed a motion Wednesday requesting that a defense expert be allowed to examine firearm and ballistic evidence in the case.
If convicted, Jolly could face the death penalty.
___
Information from: The Macon Telegraph, http://www.macontelegraph.com
