PRINTER'S NO. 303
No. 265 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY CREIGHTON, CRUZ, FLICK, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HARPER,
HASAY, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HORSEY, KIRKLAND, KOTIK, LEH,
PALLONE, PISTELLA, READSHAW, RUBLEY, SATHER, SAYLOR, SOLOBAY,
WANSACZ, WATSON AND WILT, FEBRUARY 12, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 12, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
2 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for
3 exemptions from jury duty.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 4503 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes, amended October 17, 2002 (P.L.886,
8 No.128), is amended to read:
9 § 4503. Exemptions from jury duty.
10 (a) General rule.--No person shall be exempt or excused from
11 jury duty except the following:
12 (1) Persons in active service of the armed forces of the
13 United States or of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
14 (2) Persons who have served within three years next
15 preceding on any jury except a person who served as a juror
16 for fewer than three days in any one year in which case the
17 exemption period shall be one year.
1 (3) Persons demonstrating to the court undue hardship or
2 extreme inconvenience may be excused permanently or for such
3 period as the court determines is necessary, and if excused
4 for a limited period shall, at the end of the period, be
5 assigned to the next jury array.
6 (4) Spouses, children, siblings, parents, grandparents
7 and grandchildren of victims of criminal homicide under 18
8 Pa.C.S. § 2501 (relating to criminal homicide).
9 (5) Persons 70 years of age or older who request to be
10 excused.
11 (b) Challenges.--This subchapter shall not affect the
12 existing practice with respect to peremptory challenges and
13 challenges for cause.
14 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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