A citizen grand jury will be empaneled over the next month over allegations of misconduct by Emporia City Commissioner Erren Harter.
Lyon County District Court Administrator Ruth Wheeler says the county’s four district court judges — Jeff Larson, Lee Fowler, Doug Jones and Laura Miser — have approved convening the grand jury on or before October 5.
The petition alleges Harter received “substantial interest” and failed to disclose it, as well as voting in favor of certain public funding allocations without abstaining during City Commission meetings.
Empaneling the grand jury will lead to 15 members selected in the same fashion as for regular district court cases. Twelve members are needed to have a quorum.
The process ultimately will end with no bill of indictment or a true bill of indictment, meaning additional court proceedings and a possible trial.
Wheeler says the case is sealed. Once empaneled, the grand jury will set its own schedule.
