Jury Duty

Jury Service For Those Who Speak English as a Second Language

Jury Duty Obligation

Under the Constitution, everyone has rights and obligations. One of these rights is to trial by jury of your fellow citizens.

If you have been called to jury duty, you will serve under the One Day-One Trial System. This means that instead of calling jurors for one week, you are required to serve one day or one trial. At the end of the day or trial, your jury obligation has been fulfilled for three years. Please read over your jury summons carefully. 

As a juror, you will be paid $9 per day and 17 cents per mile. The mileage is based upon address geocoding.  Should you be chosen to serve on a jury, after the third day you will receive $25 per day.

Parking / Transportation

Parking is available in the Bucks County Parking Garage located between Doyle and Union Streets. All jurors must retrieve a ticket when entering the garage and bring the ticket with them so the parking can be validated. Do not use a credit card. The parking garage is 4 tiers with entrances on Doyle, Broad, and Union Streets:

  • Union Street Garage - Paid public parking will be available at all hours Monday through Saturday at the Union Street facility. The cost of parking there will be $1 per hour.

During snow and icy conditions the top level of the parking garage may be closed; you will need to enter off of Broad or Doyle Streets. If you need assistance getting in or out of the parking garage push the help button and security will be able to assist you.

Shuttle Bus

The County runs a shuttle that picks up at the entrance on Union Street from 7 am to 10 am and in the afternoon it runs from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The shuttle bus stop is on Union Street across from the top level of the parking garage.

Dress Code

Please use good judgment and dress conservatively. No shorts or t-shirts are permitted.

Steps in a Jury Trial

  1. Selection of the Jury - Jurors are called for the voir dire. Jurors challenged, for cause and peremptory. Challenged jurors return to the Jury Lounge and the selected jurors are sworn.
  2. The Trial - The Judge may deliver remarks to the Jury. The Attorneys give their opening remarks. Witnesses are called for direct and cross-examination and exhibits are presented. When all of the evidence has been presented, the attorneys give closing arguments.
  3. The Judge's Charge - The Judge instructs the jury as to what laws apply to the case and what those laws mean.
  4. Deliberation - The jury goes into a private room to discuss the case and reach a decision. Any questions that arise during deliberations are given to the tipstaff, in writing, and will be delivered to the judge.
  5. The Verdict - The jury returns to the courtroom and the jury foreman announces the decision. The attorneys may ask that the jury be polled.

Closings & Delays

If there is a closing or delay in opening it will updated on the current announcement line at 215-340-8208. Inclement weather announcements will be updated by 6:30 am the day of the potential closing or delay in opening.

COVID-19 Notice

During COVID The Office of Jury Selection has made some big changes.  We have a new jury management software program that allows you to complete your qualifying questionnaire and information questionnaires for criminal and civil trials online. Mask wearing is not required at the Justice Center.