PRINTER'S NO. 1466
No. 1054 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY PIPPY, COSTA, LOGAN AND SCHWARTZ, MARCH 24, 2004
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 24, 2004
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 is amended to read:
8 § 4503. Exemptions from jury duty.
9 (a) General rule.--No person shall be exempt or excused from
10 jury duty except the following:
11 (1) Persons in active service of the armed forces of the
12 United States or of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
13 (2) Persons who have served within three years next
14 preceding on any jury except a person who served as a juror
15 for fewer than three days in any one year in which case the
16 exemption period shall be one year.
17 (3) Persons demonstrating to the court undue hardship or
18 extreme inconvenience may be excused permanently or for such
1 period as the court determines is necessary, and if excused
2 for a limited period shall, at the end of the period, be
3 assigned to the next jury array.
4 (4) Spouses, children, siblings, parents, grandparents
5 and grandchildren of victims of criminal homicide under 18
6 Pa.C.S. § 2501 (relating to criminal homicide).
7 (5) Persons who are active members of a volunteer fire
8 department or volunteer ambulance service shall be excused
9 permanently. The Court Administrator of Pennsylvania shall
10 prescribe a form to be used therefor. Any qualified person
11 may file such form with the appropriate jury commissioner who
12 shall exempt such person from jury duty. The exemption shall
13 remain valid so long as such person remains an active
14 volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance service worker.
15 (b) Challenges.--This subchapter shall not affect the
16 existing practice with respect to peremptory challenges and
17 challenges for cause.
18 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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