The jury duty dress code in Pennsylvania is business casual in most counties, but there is no single statewide rule. Each Court of Common Pleas sets its own standards, so what passes in a rural courthouse may get you sent home in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. Check your summons and your county court’s website before your reporting date, and when in doubt, dress up rather than down.
What Business Casual Means in a Pennsylvania Courtroom
Most counties describe the target as business casual or clothing that respects the formality of a courtroom. Monroe County’s juror FAQ puts it simply: dress comfortably but properly for a courthouse. Collared shirts, blouses, slacks, khakis, sweaters, and modest dresses or skirts all fit. You don’t need a suit and tie. Your outfit just has to look like you take the proceeding seriously.
Footwear matters more than people expect. Closed-toe shoes such as loafers, flats, or basic dress shoes work best. You’ll likely sit for hours on hard benches, so comfort counts, but flip-flops and athletic sandals cross the line in most counties. Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) specifically lists “beach shoes” among items that will get you dismissed for the day.1Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Frequently Asked Questions Several counties also recommend dressing in layers, because courtroom temperatures can swing from stuffy to freezing.
What to Leave at Home
The banned items are remarkably consistent from one county to the next. York County publishes one of the more detailed dress codes in the state. It prohibits shorts, requires that shoulders, backs, chests, and midriffs stay covered, and insists that tank tops or undershirts be worn only under another layer.2York County, PA. Juror Dress Code Allegheny County adds blue jeans, t-shirts, and sweat suits to the list of unacceptable attire.1Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Frequently Asked Questions
Clothing with offensive language, political slogans, or large logos is off-limits practically everywhere. Monroe County’s FAQ specifically bans “any shirt with offensive messages.”3Monroe County PA iJuror. Monroe County PA iJuror – FAQ Even a non-vulgar message that signals a political or social stance can raise questions about your impartiality during jury selection. Attorneys read prospective jurors closely, and a slogan on your chest is an easy reason for a lawyer to strike you from the panel.
Hats and head coverings should come off inside the courtroom. The standard exception applies to religious head coverings and items worn for documented medical reasons.
Phones and Other Electronics
Most Pennsylvania courthouses let you bring a cell phone, but the rules on when and where you can use one vary. Erie County permits laptops, cell phones, tablets, and handheld gaming consoles for use during waiting periods.4Erie County Courts. Jury Duty Others are stricter. Bradford County bans all electronic devices from the courthouse except for certain authorized individuals, though jurors with a valid summons are allowed to bring their phones in.
Regardless of county policy, all devices must be silenced or powered off inside the courtroom itself. Using a phone or smartwatch to text, browse, or take photos during proceedings can result in confiscation, and in serious cases, a contempt finding. Keep the phone on silent in your bag during trial sessions and save it for breaks.
Why the Rules Change County to County
Pennsylvania has 60 judicial districts spread across its 67 counties, and each Court of Common Pleas can set its own local rules for juror conduct and attire.5Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Judicial Districts There is no single document that captures the statewide dress code. Allegheny County explicitly bans jeans; other counties don’t mention them at all. Philadelphia’s guidance is notably vague, asking only that jurors dress “in keeping with the dignity of court proceedings.”
Your jury summons is the most reliable starting point. It usually includes a section on expected attire or points to a webpage with details. If the summons doesn’t address clothing, check your county court’s website under “juror services” or “jury duty FAQ.” Nobody has ever been sent home for looking too professional.
What Happens If You Show Up Dressed Wrong
The most common outcome is straightforward: you get sent home to change. York County’s dress code page states that jurors wearing inappropriate clothing “may be asked to return home, at your own expense, to change into more suitable attire.”2York County, PA. Juror Dress Code Allegheny County takes a slightly different approach, dismissing improperly dressed jurors and ordering them to return the next court day.1Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Frequently Asked Questions
Getting turned away is more than an inconvenience. Pennsylvania pays jurors $9 per day for the first three days of service and $25 per day after that, plus 17 cents per mile for travel except in Philadelphia, where no mileage is paid.6Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 42 – Chapter 45 If you’re sent home, you lose that day’s pay and have to come back on a future date, stretching out an obligation most people want to finish quickly.
A dress code violation alone won’t put you in contempt of court. The contempt statute for jurors, 42 Pa.C.S. ยง 4584, applies to jurors who fail to appear after being summoned, and it carries a fine of up to $500 or up to ten days in jail.6Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 42 – Chapter 45 Showing up in shorts and getting sent home is embarrassing, not criminal. If the court then orders you to return on a specific date and you don’t show up, that is where contempt becomes a real possibility.