Juror Frequently Asked Questions
Serving as a juror is one of the fundamental rights and privileges of being a citizen of the United States. You should welcome the experience. Most people who serve as a juror on a trial will tell you that it is a very educational and interesting experience. The Court recognizes the inconvenience jury service may cause. However, the success of the jury system depends upon the willingness of men and women of integrity and intelligence to accept jury service, and upon the fidelity with which they discharge that responsibility.
HERE ARE SOME COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS THAT MAY HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE JURY SYSTEM
For more information:
Q. How do I get to the Jury Assembly Room?
A: Directions to the Jury Assembly Room from the Market Street Entrance:
- Enter the Justice Center through the Market Street Entrance.
- Take the elevator to the 5th floor.
- Make a left and go down the long hallway, to the Jury Assembly Room, Suite 5325.
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Q. Who may be called to serve as a juror?
A: You may be called to serve if you are at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Chester County.
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Q. How was my name selected for jury service?
A: Chester County uses the list of registered Chester County voters. The required number of jurors for a particular day are randomly selected by the computer and summoned to appear for jury service.
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Q. Why have some people never been called for jury service and I’ve been called more than once?
A: Selection is a random process. As such, there is always the chance that a person may never be called while another may be called several times.
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Q. Will I be automatically exempted from jury service if I am a doctor, lawyer, dentist or school teacher?
A. No. jury service is a civic obligation that we all have. No one is automatically excused because of their occupation. Many doctors, lawyers, dentists and school teachers have served as jurors in Chester County. Not even the judges themselves are exempt from jury service.
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Q. How long will I have to serve?
A: If you are selected to serve as a trial juror, your jury service will be for the length of that trial. Most trials take between one and five days to complete. Because of this, DO NOT make any appointments or commitments that would interfere with you serving on a trial that may take up to five (5) days to complete. If you are NOT selected as a trial juror, your length of service will be two (2) days.
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Q. What can I expect if I am required to report?
A: You will be greeted by jury personnel in Suite 5325, 5th Floor of the Chester County Justice Center, who will check you in. A brief orientation will be provided by a jury commissioner advising you of the jury selection procedures. During the jury selection you will be told about the length of the trial. Any conflicts that you may have will be addressed during jury selection.
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Q. What time will I arrive and leave?
A: The normal business hours for the court are 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. You may be required to report at a different time, the phone call in system will advise you of the specific time to report if your services are required. If you are seated on a trial, you may serve later than 4:30 p.m. Breaks and a minimum of an hour for lunch will be provided.
Please refer to the following section for further information on call-in procedures.
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Q. What is the telephone call-in procedure?
A. After you have received and responded to your summons, the following is the telephone procedure to be followed based upon your service dates from you summons.
- You must call the Jury Information Line: 1-800-223-JURY (1-800-223-5879) or 610-344-6597 after 5:00 p.m. each day prior to your service dates. Instructions concerning reporting time will be given via a recorded message.
- Please listen carefully and follow all instructions.
- Jurors scheduled for Monday and Tuesday – Call on Sunday and Monday evenings.
- Jurors scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday – Call on Monday and Tuesday evenings.
- Jurors scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday – Call on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
- Jurors scheduled for Friday – Call on Thursday evening.
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Q. How much do I get paid for jury service?
A: According to PA law, jurors are paid $9.00 per day for the first three days of jury service and $25.00 per day for every day thereafter. PA law also calls for payment of mileage at the rate of 17 cents per mile. Mileage is calculated by using a zip code table from the Chester County Justice Center to the center of the zip code listed in the mailing address of the juror.
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Q. Does my employer have to pay me while I am serving on jury service?
A: PA law does not require an employer to compensate an employee for jury service. Check with your employer for their policy.
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Q. What happens if a person ignores a summons or fails to report for jury service?
A: The law provides that such conduct is contempt of court punishable by fine and or imprisonment.
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Q. Is there an exemption due to my age?
A: PA law does not exclude persons due to their age. However, Chester County is liberal with excusing senior citizens upon written request for good reason.
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Q. Why do I have to wait until the night before to find out if I have to report?
A: The number of jurors needed by the court changes daily. An adequate number of jurors must be summoned each day to cover potential trials. We try to summon as few jurors as possible. In the past, all jurors summoned were required to report each day and then were sent home if they were not needed. As a convenience to jurors, we established the call-in system to avoid an unnecessary trip to the Justice Center.
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Q. What should I do if being a juror at that time would create a hardship for me?
A: Only those persons for whom jury service would be an extreme hardship may be excused. Should you need to be excused from jury service or have your jury service postponed, YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING to the Jury Commission’s Office, Chester County Justice Center, P.O. Box 2746, West Chester, PA 19380-0989. Please include your juror number and service date with your correspondence. PLEASE DO NOT ASK TO BE EXCUSED BY TELEPHONE.
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Q. Where do I park when I report for jury service?
A: If you drive, you will be parking in the Chester County Parking Garage (214 West Market Street) directly across the street from the Justice Center. You will need to show your juror information sheet to the attendant of the garage in order to obtain parking. When entering the garage proceed to the third floor where the attendant will be on duty between 8:00 am and 8:30 am to admit jurors. So plan to arrive accordingly. When approaching the two gates located on the third floor please utilize the gate on the left hand side. Once the attendant has opened the gate for your admittance you will be directed to park on the top floor.
Reminder:
If you leave the garage during the day you cannot get back into it. The County will pay for your parking in the above-mentioned Parking Garage ONLY. There are two entrances to the garage one from Market Street and the other from Wollerton Alley. If there is an inclement weather delay the time to check into the parking garage will be adjusted accordingly.
For example:
One Hour Delay 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Two Hour Delay 10:00 am – 10:30 am
PARKING GARAGE LOCATIONS
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Q. Does anyone pay for my parking while I am serving as a juror?
A: While serving on jury service, the County will pay for parking in the County Parking Garage ONLY.
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Q. What if I have an emergency on the day that I am to report?
A: Please call the Jury Commission Office at (610) 344-6174 before 9:00 a.m.
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Q. What should I wear?
A: Please use good judgment and dress conservatively We suggest that you wear simple business attire that is comfortable and not extreme in style. This helps maintain the dignity of the court. Blue jeans, shorts, tank tops and tee shirts are not suitable.
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Q. Will I have to go through any security measures when I enter the Justice Center?
A: Yes, all persons entering the Justice Center are subject to a security search and will be required to pass through a metal detector. Please do not bring any sharp objects with you, for example: scissors, pen knives, and knitting needles when reporting for jury service.
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Q. Do you provide childcare while serving as a juror?
A: Childcare is not provided at the Chester County Justice Center. Jurors are expected to arrange for babysitting or childcare during their term of jury service.
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Q. What should I bring when I report?
A: You should bring something to read during waiting periods. Magazines are provided in the Jury Assembly Room for your convenience.
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Q. What happens if there is inclement weather on the day I am required to report?
A: In case of inclement weather, please listen to radio stations, WCHE (1520 AM), KYW (1060 AM), WPAZ (1380 AM), and TV station WGAL (Channel 8), to find out if you should report. You may also go to the Chester County Government Website: www.chesco.org and click on the County Status Button for Office Closings/Emergency Information or call toll free 1-800-692-1100.
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Q. Who are the people in the courtroom?
A. A number of people will be in the courtroom in addition to the judge, the jury, and the attorneys. The following is a list of who they are:
- Plaintiff –The plaintiff is the person who filed a civil suit.
- Defendant –The defendant in a civil case is the person being sued and in a criminal case is the person who has been charged with a crime.Attorneys or Counsel – Attorneys representing the plaintiff, defendant or the government in a criminal case are also referred to as counsel. Depending on whom they represent and what court you may be in, you may hear them called counsel for the plaintiff, plaintiff’s attorney, counsel for the defendant, or defense attorney. An attorney representing the government in a criminal case is called the district attorney, the prosecuting attorney or the Commonwealth’s attorney.
- Court Reporter – The court reporter keeps the official record by recording every word spoken during the trial.
- Tipstaff – The tipstaff’s responsibility is to maintain order in the court and follow the instructions from the judge to attend to the jury.
- Deputy Sheriff – The deputy sheriff provides security in the courtroom.
- Clerk – The Clerk is responsible for all documents and physical evidence that are entered into the trial and for the swearing in of the jury and all witnesses.
- Witnesses – Each side in a trial will probably have a number of witnesses who have information about the dispute.
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Q. What is the sequence of a trial?
A. The sequence of a trial is as follows:
- Selection of a Jury
- Opening Statements
- Plaintiff’s attorney (or prosecuting/Commonwealth’s attorney for a criminal case)
- Defendant’s attorney
- Testimony of Witnesses and Presentation of Evidence
- Plaintiff’s attorney (or prosecuting/Commonwealth’s attorney for a criminal case)
- Direct examination of plaintiff’s witnesses by plaintiff’s attorney
- Cross-examination of plaintiff’s witnesses by defendant’s attorney
- Redirect examination of plaintiff’s witnesses by plaintiff’s attorney
- Defendant’s attorney
- Direct examination of defendant’s witnesses by defendant’s attorney
- Cross-examination of defendant’s witnesses by plaintiff’s attorney
- Redirect examination of defendant’s witnesses by defendant’s attorney
- Selection and Preparation of Jury Instructions
- Jury Instructions Presented to the Jury
- Closing Arguments
- Plaintiff’s attorney (or prosecuting/Commonwealth’s attorney for a criminal case)Defendant’s attorney
- Plaintiff’s attorney (or prosecuting/Commonwealth’s attorney) to close the case
- Jury Deliberations
- Verdict of the Jury
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