Kraig Kahler, a suspect in family's deaths, objects to jury pool

LYNDON, Kan. — A former Columbia city official is objecting to how the jury will be chosen for his trial in the deaths of four relatives in Kansas.

James Kraig Kahler, a former Columbia Water and Light director, is charged in the deaths of his estranged wife, two daughters and wife's grandmother in November 2009.

The jury will be Osage County residents who have driver's licenses. Kahler's attorneys say in a motion filed this past week that the process for picking a jury is unconstitutional.

Osage County is one of four counties in the Fourth Judicial District. Kahler's attorneys contend the jury should come from throughout the district, and jurors should not be required to have driver's licenses.

The Topeka Capital Journal reports that a hearing on the motion will be held May 17.