Escambia County (Ala.) residents who received a jury summons to be at the courthouse in Brewton Monday, Jan. 11, morning can disregard that summons since the January jury term has been canceled due to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases.
Presiding Circuit Judge Jeff White issued an administrative order Friday, Jan. 8, cancelling the January term.
In his order, Judge White encouraged the district attorney and defense counsel to use the week on Jan. 11 to discuss settlements. He also said a circuit judge would be available to take plea agreements.
Circuit Clerk John Robert Fountain state that the county was up-graded to high risk on Jan. 7 concerning the coronavirus and that CDC guidelines suggest that high-risk counties not have any groups of 20 people.
Fountain joined Judge White in saying people who received jury summons should disregard the summons and are not required to show up Monday.