NewsCoronavirus

Actions

COVID-19 continues to disrupt jury trials, high number of no responses from jurors

Posted at 10:11 AM, Nov 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-24 17:11:17-05

We've found a virtual or socially distanced alternative for many things but the coronavirus is still disrupting the country's criminal justice system.

Court officials around the country are reporting high numbers of non-responses from potential jurors which they assume is due to concern for COVID.

Meanwhile, judges in at least four states have been forced to declare mistrials because people connected to the trial came down with the virus.

Federal officials report at least 20 U.S. district courts have suspended jury trials altogether.