Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4501 (2026)

 Declaration of policy.

✓ current as of May 2026
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CHAPTER 45

JURIES AND JURORS

 

Subchapter

A.  Qualifications and Exemptions

B.  Selection and Custody of Jurors

C.  Summoning Jurors

D.  Investigating Grand Juries

E.  Miscellaneous Provisions

F.  Penalties

 

Enactment.  Chapter 45 (Reserved) was added July 9, 1976, P.L.586, No.142, effective 60 days from the date of final enactment of the act of April 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, and the remaining provisions of Chapter 45 were added June 26, 1980, P.L.266, No.78, effective immediately.

Special Provisions in Appendix.  See sections 5 and 6 of Act 78 of 1980 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to applicability and implementation of Chapter 45 and validity of interim proceedings.

 

 

SUBCHAPTER A

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS

 

Sec.

4501.  Declaration of policy.

4502.  Qualifications of jurors.

4503.  Exemptions from jury duty.

§ 4501.  Declaration of policy.

It is the policy of this Commonwealth that:

(1)  All persons entitled to a jury trial in a civil action or criminal proceeding shall have the right to jurors selected at random from a representative cross section of the eligible population of the county.

(2)  All qualified citizens shall have the opportunity to be considered for service as jurors in the courts of this Commonwealth and shall have an obligation to serve as jurors when summoned for that purpose.

(3)  A citizen shall not be excluded from service as a juror on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or economic status.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases, 1981–2012 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Spence, 627 A.2d 1176 (Pa. 1993).
Commonwealth v. Spence, 627 A.2d 1176 (Pa. 1993). · cites it 2× “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 4501. In Batson , the Supreme Court held that a defendant is required to demonstrate a prima facie case that the prosecutor improperly used peremptory challenges.”
Commonwealth v. King, 57 A.3d 607 (Pa. 2012). “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 4501(3). A majority of this Court recently rejected a virtually identical claim raised by Appellant’s codefendant Martin in his appeal from the denial of guilt-phase relief on collateral review.”
Commonwealth v. Craver, 688 A.2d 691 (Pa. 1997). · cites it 2× “The failure to update the lists resulted in the exclusion of all residents who reached the age of eighteen and those who changed addresses after the list was prepared in 1989, in direct violation of 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 4501 and 4502. 3 *24 The jury commission failed to maintain…”
Commonwealth v. Harris, 424 A.2d 1245 (Pa. 1981). · cites it 2× “Jury selection procedure is now codified at 42 Pa.C.S. § 4501 et seq. (Act No. 1980-78, Purdon’s Pa.”
Shick v. Shirey, 691 A.2d 511 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1997). · cites it 2× “2d 119 (1978) (employee discharged for performing statutorily obligated jury duty violated 42 Pa.C.S. § 4501); Field v. Philadelphia Electric Co.”
Sheeran v. Kubert, Himmelstein & Assocs. P.C., 69 Pa. D. & C.4th 303 (2003). · cites it 10× “” 42 Pa.C.S. §4501. *307 “Exemptions from jury duty “(a) General rule.”
Dietz v. Round Hill Foods Inc., 49 Pa. D. & C.3d 222 (1987). “See 42 Pa. C.S. §4501 (Declaration of Policy) stating the policy of this commonwealth regarding the right to a jury trial, and 42 Pa.”
Nazar v. Clark Distrib. Sys. Inc., 46 Pa. D. & C.4th 28 (2000). “2d 1170, 1180 (1989), or serving on a jury pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S. §4501. Reuther v. Fowler & Williams Inc.”
Shick v. Shirey, 25 Pa. D. & C.4th 481 (1995). “See 42 Pa.C.S. §4501 (Declaration of Policy) stating the policy of the Commonwealth regarding the right to a jury trial, and that all qualified citizens shall have an obligation to serve as jurors when summoned for that purpose, as well as 42 Pa.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4501(1) — 3 cases
Commonwealth v. Craver, 688 A.2d 691 (Pa. 1997). “The failure to update the lists resulted in the exclusion of all residents who reached the age of eighteen and those who changed addresses after the list was prepared in 1989, in direct violation of 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 4501 and 4502. 3 *24 The jury commission failed to maintain…”
Commonwealth v. Harris, 424 A.2d 1245 (Pa. 1981). “Jury selection procedure is now codified at 42 Pa.C.S. § 4501 et seq. (Act No. 1980-78, Purdon’s Pa.”
Sheeran v. Kubert, Himmelstein & Assocs. P.C., 69 Pa. D. & C.4th 303 (2003). “” 42 Pa.C.S. §4501. *307 “Exemptions from jury duty “(a) General rule.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4501(2) — 1 case
Sheeran v. Kubert, Himmelstein & Assocs. P.C., 69 Pa. D. & C.4th 303 (2003). “” 42 Pa.C.S. §4501. *307 “Exemptions from jury duty “(a) General rule.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4501(3) — 2 cases
Commonwealth v. King, 57 A.3d 607 (Pa. 2012). “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 4501(3). A majority of this Court recently rejected a virtually identical claim raised by Appellant’s codefendant Martin in his appeal from the denial of guilt-phase relief on collateral review.”
Sheeran v. Kubert, Himmelstein & Assocs. P.C., 69 Pa. D. & C.4th 303 (2003). “” 42 Pa.C.S. §4501. *307 “Exemptions from jury duty “(a) General rule.”
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