Pennsylvania Jury Duty Cell Phone & Laptop Rules (2026)
Short answer: Yes in 16 of 16 counties in Pennsylvania. You must show your official Jury Summons at the Sheriff checkpoint, and all devices must be powered off when you are escorted into a courtroom for voir dire. Updated 2026-11-04
16 of 16 courthouses in Pennsylvania allow summoned jurors to bring cell phones into the Jury Assembly Room while waiting to be called, and 16 permit laptops or tablets with public Wi-Fi in the juror lounge. Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas vary sharply by county: Philadelphia Stout Center and Dauphin/Lancaster/York enforce strict phone bans or mandatory Yondr pouches / lobby check-in for general visitors, while Allegheny (Pittsburgh) and Montgomery County allow silenced phones.
| County Courthouse | City | Juror phone & laptop rules | Phone Lockers | Juror Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice & Philadelphia City Hall “First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Security Order (Stout Center for Criminal Justice, 1301 Filbert St): "To prevent witness intimidation and unauthorized recording under Pa.R.Crim.P. 112, general visitors at the Criminal Justice Center must secure or check cell phones at the security checkpoint. Jurors in Room 195 City Hall / Room 105 Stout Center may use devices in the Jury Assembly Room."” |
Philadelphia | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | $22/day |
| Allegheny County Allegheny County Courthouse (Pittsburgh) “Allegheny County Courthouse (Pittsburgh) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Pittsburgh | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Montgomery County Montgomery County Courthouse (Norristown) “Montgomery County Courthouse (Norristown) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Norristown | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Bucks County Bucks County Courthouse (Doylestown) “Bucks County Courthouse (Doylestown) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Doylestown | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Delaware County Delaware County Courthouse (Media) “Delaware County Courthouse (Media) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Media | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Chester County Chester County Courthouse (West Chester) “Chester County Courthouse (West Chester) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
West Chester | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Lancaster County Lancaster County Courthouse (Lancaster) “Lancaster County Courthouse (Lancaster) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Lancaster | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| York County York County Courthouse (York) “York County Courthouse (York) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
York | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Berks County Berks County Courthouse (Reading) “Berks County Courthouse (Reading) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Reading | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Lehigh County Lehigh County Courthouse (Allentown) “Lehigh County Courthouse (Allentown) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Allentown | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Luzerne County Luzerne County Courthouse (Wilkes-Barre) “Luzerne County Courthouse (Wilkes-Barre) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Wilkes-Barre | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Northampton County Northampton County Courthouse (Easton) “Northampton County Courthouse (Easton) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Easton | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Westmoreland County Westmoreland County Courthouse (Greensburg) “Westmoreland County Courthouse (Greensburg) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Greensburg | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Dauphin County Dauphin County Courthouse (Harrisburg) “Dauphin County Courthouse (Harrisburg) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Harrisburg | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Cumberland County Cumberland County Courthouse (Carlisle) “Cumberland County Courthouse (Carlisle) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Carlisle | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Erie County Erie County Courthouse (Erie) “Erie County Courthouse (Erie) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Erie | Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
Skip the Security Line & Protect Your Record in PA
If you have a Traffic Ticket, Speeding/CDL Violation, DUI, Misdemeanor, or Family Court hearing in PA, a licensed local attorney can often appear in court on your behalf—saving you from missing work, risking a bench warrant, or taking points on your license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my laptop and phone to jury duty in Pennsylvania?
Yes in 16 of 16 counties in Pennsylvania. You must show your official Jury Summons at the Sheriff checkpoint, and all devices must be powered off when you are escorted into a courtroom for voir dire.
How is this courthouse policy data verified?
We verify every county against official Court Administrative Orders (.gov), Jury Commissioner instructions, and Sheriff Court Security directives. Last verified 2026-11-04.
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