COVID-19 shuts down jury trials

Escambia County (Ala.) Circuit Judge Jeff White cancels jury term; county listed high-risk

A spike in COVID-19 cases in Escambia County (Ala.) prompted Presiding Circuit Judge Jeff White to cancel the January jury term that was scheduled to begin Monday, but he said he's optimistic that jury trials will resume in March.

Judge White issued his administrative order canceling this week's jury term last Friday after learning that the county had been designated as a high-risk area for the coronavirus. However, he did say the court system is not closed and cases can move forward.

"When I decided to go forward with the January jury term I talked with the Alabama Department of Public Health," he said. "They projected we would be a low-risk county. It turned out we are now a high-risk county."

White said his staff did everything possible to reach out to citizens who were summoned for jury duty Monday to inform them the term had been canceled and they did not need to attend.

"We have to make decisions based on the best information we have at the time," Judge White said. "The court system is up and running but we've had to postpone jury trials for the time being."

In his order released Friday, Judge White encouraged the district attorney and defense counsel to use the week of Jan. 11 to discuss settlements. He also said a circuit judge would be available to take plea agreements.

Circuit Clerk John Robert Fountain said the county was upgraded to high-risk on Jan. 7. He added that under the Center for Disease Control guidelines it's suggested to not have any groups of 20 people or more.

 
 
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