Jury Duty

Trial by jury is a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

We are most pleased to welcome you as you prepare for jury service in the Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County. We want your stay to be as pleasant and as rewarding as possible. This note has been prepared to provide you with information to better equip you to fulfill your obligations as a juror.

Jury service, while a responsibility of each of us, should also be viewed by you as your opportunity to view first hand and participate in the American system of justice, and also, hopefully, to assist each of us in the Court system to make improvements to the operation of justice in our county.

The Court and the entire legal community wish to thank you for your service as a juror. We want to make your service as interesting and rewarding as possible, and we look forward to hearing from you after you serve to improve our methods and treatment of those citizens who come after you to serve in this most important capacity.

FAQs

Will I be paid for service as a juror?

Yes, $9.00 per day for the first three days and $25.00 per day thereafter, and mileage for transportation to and from the courthouse. These fees are set by the State Legislature. The Lawrence County Court Administrator will be issuing checks to jurors immediately upon completion of jury duty. This process will help save money by not having to mail the checks to jurors and will also save time so that jurors won’t have to wait for their checks. As an added feature, any juror, that so chooses, may cash their check at the Lawrence County Treasurer’s Office that day.

What if my employer doesn’t allow me to serve?

The law prohibits any employer from preventing an employee to serve as a juror. The law also prohibits an employer from depriving a juror of benefits because of jury service, such as requiring you to use vacation time to serve.

Is it possible to appear for jury service and not sit on a jury?

Yes, more people are called than actually serve, because it is not always possible to estimate accurately the number of jurors who will be needed to serve each day.

Is my employer required to pay me while I serve as a juror?

If you work for the government, your employer must pay you. If you work in the private sector, your employer does not have to pay you.

How long does the average trial take?

Criminal trials do not usually last longer than two to three days. Generally, civil trials do not last longer than three to four days. However, some trials may last longer.