Adopted September 8, 1938 · Last amended September 22, 1976 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 221 gives each party four peremptory challenges, exercised in turn beginning with the plaintiff and following the order in which parties were named, and lets the court allow additional challenges or treat several aligned plaintiffs or defendants as a single party to keep the allocation fair.
Each party shall be entitled to four peremptory challenges, which shall be exercised in turn beginning with the plaintiff and following in the order in which the party was named or became a party to the action. In order to achieve a fair distribution of challenges, the court in any case may
(a)allow additional peremptory challenges and allocate them among the parties;
(b)where there is more than one plaintiff or more than one defendant or more than one additional defendant, consider any one or more of such groups as a single party.
End
Plain-English Summary
This rule sets the baseline for peremptory strikes — challenges that remove a prospective juror without stating a reason. Each party is entitled to four, exercised in turn starting with the plaintiff and following the order in which each party entered the case.
The court can adjust the count to keep things even. To achieve a fair distribution, it may allow additional peremptory challenges and allocate them among the parties, and where there are multiple plaintiffs, defendants, or additional defendants it may treat any such group as a single party.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many peremptory challenges does each party get?
Four, exercised in turn beginning with the plaintiff. The court may allow additional challenges and allocate them, and it may treat a group of aligned parties as a single party.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 221 adopted September 8, 1938, effective March 20, 1939; amended April 18, 1975, effective immediately, 5 Pa.B. 1820; amended September 22, 1976, effective November 1, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2877. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (22252).
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. Last verified June 30, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as:peremptory challengesperemptory strikesjury strikes