The verdict is in for jurors on the outs: Philly scofflaw court
Philly's court system plans to reopen a 'scofflaw court' to crack down on jury duty no-shows (AP Photo/The Asbury Park Press, Thomas P. Costello, Pool)
If you’ve been summoned for jury duty in Philadelphia, here’s some unsolicited advice: Don’t skip it.
The city’s court system, known as the First Judicial District, is planning to reopen a “scofflaw court” in April to crack down on no-shows. The court was phased out more than a decade ago.
“This is not something which the courts want to do,” said Jury Commissioner Daniel Rendine. “But we hope that if some of our citizens see how important jury duty is, they will start to comply with their jury notices.”
Rendine says only 13.8 percent of residents who were summoned for jury duty last year actually showed up in court, down from 16 percent in prior years. Violators can be fined $100 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, he said.
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