The provincial government has launched a pilot program for a web-based system that will give potential jurors the option of responding to summonses electronically - but it will be some time yet, if at all, before it starts in Prince George.
The pilot program will be limited to Victoria and Vancouver, Ministry of Attorney General spokesman Dave Townsend said Friday, and no timeline has been established. Depending on its success, it will be rolled out in the rest of the province.
Called eResponse, the web-based system allows jurors to use the Internet to verify if they can participate in the jury selection process, rather than mailing in their response or travelling to their local courthouse during business hours. They'll continued to be summonsed by mail.
Similar programs are currently in use in some United States communities but will be the first of its kind in Canada.
