Section 556.1. Summoning Panels of Grand Jurors

(A) When the court of common pleas elects to proceed with an indicting grand jury, the president judge, or president judge’s designee, shall order one or more grand juries to be summoned for the purpose of issuing indictments or shall order that the sitting investigating grand jury shall sit as the indicting grand jury.

(B) The judge shall order the officials designated by law to summon prospective jurors to summon such number of jurors who are eligible by law as the judge deems necessary to serve as a panel for grand jury service.

(C) The summons shall be made returnable on such date as is ordered by the court.

Comment

Pursuant to paragraph (A), the president judge, or president judge’s designee, may order that an investigating grand jury that is sitting will also serve in the capacity of the indicting grand jury.

The number of persons who may be summoned is left to the discretion of the president judge or the president judge’s designee to accommodate the needs of the judicial district.

The qualification, selection, and summoning of prospective jurors, as well as related matters, are generally dealt with in 42 Pa.C.S. § § 4501—4503, 4521—4527, and 4531—4532.

Official Note

New Rule 556.1 adopted June 21, 2012, effective in 180 days.

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining the new rule published with the Court’s Order at 42 Pa.B. 4153 (July 7, 2012).

The provisions of this Rule 556.1 adopted June 21, 2012, effective in 180 days, 42 Pa.B. 4140.