HARRISBURG - Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107) exempting certain people from serving on county juries if they've already served a full term on a grand jury at the state level has passed the House.
"Grand juries are often seated for extended periods, usually much longer than typical jury duty," said Masser. "I have worked with Senior Commonwealth Court Judge Barry F. Feudale on this bill to allow a person to opt out of serving on a jury at the county level if he or she has served on a grand jury at the state level for its full duration."
Feudale is a former Northumberland County judge.
House Bill 804 would enable people who want to serve on county juries to serve if they wish to, but people who have served a full term on a statewide investigating grand jury, including any extensions, will be given the option to be exempt from jury duty on a district court.
This change has been recommended in a report filed by the Twenty-Sixth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury on March 11, 2009. Pennsylvania grand juries are convened to aid with the investigation of organized crime, public corruption and other criminal activity. They are investigative bodies that may recommend the filing of criminal charges through a presentment.
Statewide investigating grand juries typically meet one full week each month for 18 months, and this term may be extended for an additional six months.
"Jurors endure significant personal hardships in order to participate on a statewide investigating grand jury," said Masser. "The most common concerns are: length of service, distance from their homes, absence from their families and the financial impact of such service."
Under current law, jurors who have completed service on a statewide investigating grand jury (having served for up to 18 or 24 months) are exempt from further jury duty for a three-year period.
The bill passed 187 to 5 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.