A PETIT jury is a trial jury for both civil and criminal cases. The petit jury listens to the evidence offered during a trial and returns a verdict. A verdict in a civil case may be a finding for the plaintiff or for the defendant. A verdict in a criminal case finds the defendant guilty or not guilty.

PETIT JURORS are "on call" for one month. You are required to check your reporting status every Friday of the month that you are on call. Typically, trials last about two to four days in length but some may be longer. Your summons indicates a start date to verify reporting status on the automated information line at 1-866-624-7516 or the court’s website at www.pamd.uscourts.gov.

GRAND JURORS serve a term of eighteen (18) months and are usually required to appear in court two (2) days per month.

We recognize that jury service rarely comes at a convenient time. But because that is true for nearly all individuals called for jury duty most individuals will be required to serve.

If you want to postpone your service to a later date or be excused, you must make a request in writing to the jury office of the courthouse to which you have been summoned. You must describe the reasons you believe you should be postponed or excused and provide as much information as possible, including supporting documentation. The request should be received by the jury department at least five (5) business days before your term of service begins. You may also request a postponement or excuse via the court’s website after you have completed your questionnaire. Log into eJuror and select from the options Postponement, Excuse or Temporary Excuse. If you need to request a week or less, select the option Temporary Excuse and follow the instructions.

After submitting your request for postponement or excuse, please allow 2-3 business days for processing before checking your updated status to see if your request was granted by the court.  Follow the instructions on the back of your summons to check your status by phone or by logging into eJuror from the court's website.  You are considered qualified for service unless the Court approves your request.

1. On the date indicated on your summons, call the toll free juror automated information line at 1-866-624-7516 or eJuror on this web site for reporting instructions
2. You will be asked to enter your nine-digit participant number and the first three digits of your last name
3. If you have an appearance date, you will be told when and where to report. If you do not have an appearance date, you must check every Friday until you are told your term of service is complete

If the message instructs you to report to the courthouse for jury service on a particular date, you must call the juror automated information line at 1-866-624-7516 or check eJuror the night before the reporting date to confirm that you are still needed the following day. Cases frequently settle or get continued just before trial is ready to begin, and you may not need to report. The instructions will either state that you are still scheduled to appear or it will indicate your appearance date has been removed.

If the reporting date has been canceled, you will need to check the next Friday for your up-to-date instructions. If you report for service without calling the juror information line or the web site and you are not scheduled to report, you will not be paid for your attendance or reimbursed for your travel. Always check for up-to-date reporting instructions.

You should bring your juror summons with you when you report. The bar code is used to verify attendance by the jury office. Cellular telephones and laptop computers are allowed in the Jury Assembly Room. These electronic devices must be turned off in the courtroom. The court does not provide wireless internet access. If you are serving on a trial, cellular telephones are not permitted during the deliberation process.

You must present a photo ID, such as a driver’s license when entering the courthouse. You and your belongings are subject to search. It is very important that jury selections begin promptly, so please allow plenty of time to travel to the courthouse and pass through security.

Federal jurors are paid $50.00 per day as an attendance fee and receive payment for round-trip mileage from their home to the courthouse address each day they serve. Mileage is calculated by zip code at the current federal government rate for mile reimbursement. Parking and toll expenses are reimbursed in full.

If you take public transportation, you will be reimbursed, however, reimbursement for a taxi cab is not allowed.

United States government employees will not receive an attendance fee for jury service (U.S. Postal Service employees will receive an attendance fee).

A subsistence fee will be paid to jurors who live sixty (60) miles or more from the courthouse if it is necessary to spend the night in a hotel. You must contact the jury clerk for your division to obtain prior approval to use overnight accommodations at government expense.

If you are no longer a Pennsylvania resident you will be disqualified from serving in this state.  Be sure to fill in your current address, county, and state of residence when completing your questionnaire online.  If filling out the hard copy, cross off your old address on the form and enter your current address beside it.  Make sure you sign and date the form.

No, Federal law protects all permanent employees who serve on juries. If your employer fires you, threatens to fire you, intimidates or coerces you because you have been called for jury duty, report the incident immediately to the jury office.

Second and third shift workers should take off the shift prior to the day you are to report. If a hardship related to your shiftwork prevents you from serving, you must submit a written request to be excused that explains your hardship.

Federal law requires a prospective juror to indicate his/her race to help ensure that discrimination does not occur during the juror selection. Race and gender have no bearing in determining your eligibility to serve as a juror.

It is important that jurors promptly report to the courthouse when they are required. Absences may delay or even jeopardize trials. Jurors faced with an emergency such as a sudden illness or death in the family, should follow the instructions that they were given by the Court. If they are unable to do so, they should telephone the jury staff in the divisions where their jury service is to take place.
In addition, if there is an emergency and someone needs to contact you during your service, they may call the jury staff in the division where your jury service is to take place and a message will be delivered to you promptly. Please have them specify that you are on jury duty.