Pennsylvania Act 2002-128 — JUDICIAL CODE (42 PA.C.S.) - AMEND JURY DUTY EXEMPTIONS AND QUALIFIED JUROR LIST

Act text

JUDICIAL CODE (42 PA.C.S.) - AMEND JURY DUTY EXEMPTIONS AND QUALIFIED
                                JUROR LIST
                 Act of Oct. 17, 2002, P.L. 886, No. 128              Cl. 42
                             Session of 2002
                               No. 2002-128

     SB 572

                                  AN ACT

     Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
        Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for
        exemptions from jury duty and for list of qualified jurors.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Sections 4503 and 4523 of Title 42 of the
     Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
      § 4503.  Exemptions from jury duty.
        (a)  General rule.--No person shall be exempt or excused from
     jury duty except the following:
            (1)  Persons in active service of the armed forces of the
        United States or of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
            (2)  Persons who have served within three years next
        preceding on any jury except a person who served as a juror
        for fewer than three days in any one year in which case the
        exemption period shall be one year.
            (3)  Persons demonstrating to the court undue hardship or
        extreme inconvenience may be excused permanently or for such
        period as the court determines is necessary, and if excused
        for a limited period shall, at the end of the period, be
        assigned to the next jury array.
            (4)  Spouses, children, siblings, parents, grandparents
        and grandchildren of victims of criminal homicide under 18
        Pa.C.S. § 2501 (relating to criminal homicide).
        (b)  Challenges.--This subchapter shall not affect the
     existing practice with respect to peremptory challenges and
     challenges for cause.
      § 4523.  List of disqualified jurors.
        (a)  Maintenance of list.--The jury selection commission
     shall create and maintain a list of names of all prospective
     jurors who have been disqualified and the reasons for their
     disqualification. The list shall be open for public inspection.
        (b)  Relatives of criminal homicide victims.--Any persons who
     are exempt or excused from jury duty under section 4503(a)(4)
     (relating to exemptions from jury duty) may petition the jury
     selection commission to have their names placed on the list of
     disqualified jurors. Any persons so placed on the list may, at
     any time, petition for removal of their names from the list
     unless they are otherwise disqualified under section 4502
     (relating to qualifications of jurors).
        Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

     APPROVED--The 17th day of October, A. D. 2002.

     MARK S. SCHWEIKER