Rule 220.1.Preliminary Instructions to Prospective and Selected Jurors.

Adopted July 7, 2015 · Not amended since adoption · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 220.1 requires jurors to be instructed on arrival and throughout service that they may not discuss the case, consume news about it, or use electronic devices to research or communicate about it, with the instructions repeated at voir dire, trial, and before deliberations.

Full Text of Rule 220.1

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

(a) For purposes of this rule, ‘‘prospective jurors’’ means those persons who have been chosen to be part of the panel from which the trial jurors and alternate jurors will be selected. ‘‘Selected jurors’’ means those members of the panel who have been selected to serve as trial jurors or alternate jurors. ‘‘Jury service’’ means service as (1) members of the jury array, (2) prospective jurors, and (3) selected jurors.

(b) Persons reporting for jury service, upon their arrival for this service, shall be instructed in their duties.

(c) At a minimum, the persons reporting for jury service shall be instructed that until their service as prospective or selected jurors is concluded, they shall not:

(1) discuss any case in which they have been chosen as prospective jurors or selected jurors with others, including other jurors, except as otherwise authorized by the court;

(2) read or listen to any news reports about any such case;

(3) use a computer, cellular telephone, or other electronic device with communication capabilities while in attendance at trial or during deliberation. These devices may be used during breaks or recesses but may not be used to obtain or disclose information prohibited in subdivision (c)(4);

(4) use a computer, cellular telephone, or other electronic device with communication capabilities, or any other method, to obtain or disclose information about any case in which they have been chosen as prospective or selected jurors. Information about the case includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) information about a party, witness, attorney, judge, or court officer;

(ii) news reports of the case;

(iii) information collected through juror research using such devices about the facts of the case;

(iv) information collected through juror research using such devices on any topics raised or testimony offered by any witness;

(v) information collected through juror research using such devices on any other topic the juror might think would be helpful in deciding the case.

(d) These instructions shall be repeated:

(1) to the prospective jurors at the beginning of voir dire;

(2) to the selected jurors at the commencement of the trial;

(3) to the selected jurors prior to deliberations; and

(4) to the selected jurors during trial as the trial judge deems appropriate.

(e) Jurors shall be instructed that it is their obligation immediately to inform the court of any violation of this rule.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule sets the conduct rules jurors must be told about. Persons reporting for jury service are instructed on their duties on arrival, and at a minimum are told that until their service ends they may not discuss the case, read or listen to news reports about it, or use a computer, phone, or other communication-capable device to research or disclose information about it.

The device restriction is detailed, reaching independent research about parties, witnesses, the facts, or any topic in the case, and barring use during trial and deliberation. The instructions are repeated at the start of voir dire, at the start of trial, before deliberations, and as the judge thinks appropriate, and jurors must report any violation immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can jurors use their phones or research the case online?

No. Jurors are instructed not to use a computer, phone, or other communication-capable device to research or disclose information about the case, and not to discuss the case or consume news reports about it during their service.

When are these instructions given?

On arrival for jury service, and again at the beginning of voir dire, at the start of trial, before deliberations, and at other times the trial judge deems appropriate.

Official Note

Official Note: For comprehensive jury instructions on the use of electronic devices by jurors in civil cases, see Section 1.180 of the Pennsylvania Suggested Civil Jury Instructions, Pa. SSJI (Civ), § 1.180. For guidance regarding the use of electronic devices in the courtroom by persons other than jurors, see Rule of Judicial Administration 1910.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 220.1 adopted July 7, 2015, effective October 1, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 3976.

Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. This rule has not been amended since its adoption. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: juror instructionsjurors electronic devicesjuror internet researchpreliminary instructions