Rule 649 – Sealed Verdict

May 14, 2021 | Criminal Procedure, Pennsylvania

(A) Upon the consent of all parties the judge may permit the jury to seal its verdict.
(B) The sealed verdict shall remain in the custody of the foreman of the jury who shall bring it to the next session of court stated by the trial judge. Once a verdict is sealed, the jurors may separate, but all jurors must return to open court to render the jury’s verdict, with all parties present.
(C) If upon the poll of a jury there is no concurrence with a sealed verdict, the judge shall not accept the verdict, but shall declare a mistrial and discharge the jury.

234 Pa. Code ยง 649

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court’s Order at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).

Final Report explaining the September 21, 2012 revision of the Comment correcting a rule reference in the second paragraph and the case citations published with the Court’s Order at 42 Pa.B. 6251 (October 6, 2012).