HARRISBURG — The corruption trial of three former Republican aides in the state of House of Representatives is expected to last about eight weeks, the presiding judge said Monday, as lawyers in the case picked five jurors.

Brian Preski, the longtime chief of staff to former House Speaker John Perzel; former Rep. Brett Feese, a one-time House GOP whip; and former Feese aide Jill Seaman sat silently with their lawyers as they began picking the jury. The trial is scheduled to open next Monday.

Speaking to dozens of prospective jurors, Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis said the trial would focus on allegations that the defendants illegally used taxpayer-owned computers and other technology to boost House GOP campaigns.

More than 25 hands went up when the judge asked how many people thought they could not commit to such a long stint as jurors, even though he warned that they would need an excuse more compelling than mere inconvenience.

“Jury duty is inconvenient for everyone,” Lewis told members of the jury pool. The three defendants are among 10 people with ties to the House Republican caucus who were charged by the state attorney general’s office in November 2009. They are the only ones being tried together.

Perzel, a Philadelphia resident who prosecutors have described as the architect of the alleged operation, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of conflict of interest, two counts of theft and four counts of conspiracy.

Four other defendants had previously pleaded guilty and court officials said Monday that another man — former Feese aide Al Bowman — plans to enter a plea Thursday. The remaining defendant, former Perzel aide John Zimmerman, is being prosecuted separately.

Perzel, who was voted out of office last year, and most of the others who struck plea deals with prosecutors are listed among more than 50 potential prosecution witnesses, according to court papers. The current House speaker, Republican Sam Smith of Jefferson County, is listed as a potential defense witness for Feese and Seaman.