Allegheny County Office of Jury Management - Pittsburgh, PA

Office of Jury Management

Juror Services and Summons

The Allegheny County Office of Jury Management acts as the administrative heart of the county's jury system, responsible for the summoning, qualification, and payment of jurors for both Civil and Criminal divisions of the Court of Common Pleas. Located in the City-County Building on Grant Street, this office ensures that the constitutional right to a trial by jury is upheld by maintaining a diverse and eligible pool of jurors from the community. They handle the logistics of the ”Juror Lounge” (often the Baum Room), where citizens report for duty, receive orientation, and wait for potential empanelment.

• Summons Processing: Manages the mailing of jury summonses and processes returned questionnaires to determine eligibility.
• Scheduling and Deferments: Handles requests for postponement or excusal from service due to medical hardship, age, or military service.
• Juror Compensation: Administers per diem payments and mileage reimbursement for citizens who serve.
• Check-In: Verifies juror attendance daily and provides proof of service for employers.

Accessibility and Amenities

The Office of Jury Management is committed to making jury service accessible to all citizens. The facility complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), offering assistive listening devices and wheelchair accessibility. Jurors are typically provided with a comfortable waiting area equipped with Wi-Fi, worktables, and televisions. While the office itself does not adjudicate cases, it is the primary point of contact for any citizen needing information about their service, parking validation (where applicable), or lost summonses.

Important Policies

Jury service is a mandatory civic duty. Failure to respond to a summons can result in legal penalties. Visitors to the office or the Juror Lounge must pass through building security, including metal detectors. While waiting, jurors are generally permitted to use electronic devices, but these must be turned off completely if sent to a courtroom for voir dire (jury selection).