Our View: Choosing jury crucial in Plishka case

The 16 people who will make up the jury in the trial of Jeffrey Plishka might make one of the biggest decisions of their lives.

As attorneys go through the process of selecting a jury from a large pool of candidates, one of Wayne County’s most notorious suspects will be in court with his life on the line.

This trial will determine whether Plishka is guilty of the murder of Laura Ronning, a camp counselor, back in 1991. And, if Plishka is found guilty, this trial will also determine whether he lives or dies since this is a death penalty case.

Death penalty cases are relatively rare for Pennsylvania, especially in Wayne County.

So the 16 jurors who take their seat in the Wayne County Courthouse during what is expected to be a lengthy trial will have a lot on their minds.

At times, it could be the weight of the world.

How does one go about choosing whether someone should live or die?

These jurors will also have the opportunity to visit the scene of the crime: a spot on Tanners Falls Road in Dyberry Township where police discovered Ronning’s body. DA Michael Lehutsky said it’s important for jurors to understand the topography of the area, which will be mentioned during the trial.

Jurors will also be questioned individually on where they stand on the death penalty. Attorneys want to determine if each juror can remain unbiased in making such a decision on a person’s life.

There were 750 juror requests sent out for the August trial term. Those who get chosen for the Plishka trial will be among the most famous jurists in Wayne County.

Objectivity is a must for any jury. When it comes to death penalty cases, that objectivity is off the charts.

Pennsylvania has executed people since the first colonists arrived in the late 1600s. Back then, public hanging was capital punishment for a variety of crimes, ranging from burglary and robbery, to piracy and rape. That was abolished in 1834, replaced by the electric chair from 1913 to 1962.

In November 1990, the state switched to lethal injections. This is the method of how Plishka will die if the jury sees fit.

Like many states, the dilemma over the death penalty continues to be battled throughout the court system.

The death penalty was declared unconstitutional here in 1972. It made a comeback two years later, was declared unconstitutional again in 1977 and had a new version enacted in 1978.

The reason that Plishka qualifies for the death penalty is that the Commonwealth can only apply it in cases where a defendant is found guilty of first degree murder.

A separate hearing is held for the consideration of aggravating and mitigating circumstances. If at least one of 10 aggravating circumstances listed in the law and none of the eight mitigating factors are found to be present, the verdict must be death.

Next comes a formal sentencing by the judge. There are often delays in the process.

The court can either uphold the sentence or vacate for imposition of a life sentence.

If the Supreme Court affirms the sentence, the case goes to the Governor's Office for review.

Only the Governor may set the execution date, which is done through the signing of a document known as the Governor's Warrant. Executions are carried out at the State Correctional Institution at Rockview.

This is the decision the Plishka jury will make. A man’s life is in their hands.