PRINTER'S NO. 1228
No. 1082 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY HANNA, DALEY, LEH AND PESCI, APRIL 2, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 2, 1997
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
2 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for
3 verdicts and preemptory challenges in criminal cases.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:
8 § 8703. Verdicts.
9 In a criminal case, the verdict shall require a majority of
10 no less than ten votes and shall be announced by the foreman in
11 open court in the presence of a judge, the attorney for the
12 Commonwealth, the defendant and the defendant's attorney, except
13 as provided in Pa.R.Crim.P. No. 1117 (relating to presence of
14 the defendant).
15 § 8704. Preemptory challenges.
16 (a) General rule.--In trials involving a capital felony and
17 where there is only one defendant, the Commonwealth and the
18 defendant shall each be entitled to ten preemptory challenges.
1 (b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "capital
2 felony" means a felony for which the death penalty may be
3 imposed.
4 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
B11L42JS/19970H1082B1228 - 2 -