Jury trials to resume Monday

Jury trials are set to resume Monday at the Humboldt County courthouse, but there will be a number of measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The court’s chief executive officer Kim Bartleson said the county’s former top health official is providing guidance.

“The public health officer’s designee, Dr.(Donald) Baird, has reviewed the schematics for seating as well as the court’s plan for reconvening jury trials and has stated that the social distancing requirement has been met,” Bartleson said in an email to the Times-Standard. “In addition, the wearing of face masks will continue to be required — unless a judge orders otherwise during a hearing in court. Gathering size was not a concern.”

For the week of July 13, there have been some 2,500 jurors summoned. Of those, Bartleson said, 300 were either postponed or requested to be postponed as of Thursday afternoon. “Juror status changes constantly,” she said. The jury box will not be used, she said, because it does not allow social distancing. Instead, a portion of the spectator seating area will be used for the jury.

“Due to social distancing requirements, there will be only one jury trial at a time and the location will be Courtroom 1,” she said.

Bartleson said no remote juries are expected; jurors will need to be present.

She noted barriers have been added to various areas of the courtroom, including the witness stand, and seating is reduced in the hallways

for social distancing.

“All court staff are required (to) answer daily health questions prior to arriving at work which alerts us to any possible exposure risks,” she added.

It’s unclear how many jury trials are backlogged. But Bartleson did say there are 484 criminal trials and 44 civil trials that are scheduled.

And it’s possible jury trials could be forced to halt if coronavirus cases continue to spike. But Bartleson said that is a decision for the county’s health officer. In the first nine days of July, more than 20 cases were reported in Humboldt County in addition to a handful of cases of nonresidents who were tested here.

“If there is a spike in COVID-19 that causes restrictions to be re-imposed by the public health officer, the court will have to minimize courtroom operations and adjust what types of proceedings that can be done within the constraints of the public health officer’s orders,” she said.

“If there is a spike in COVID-19 that causes restrictions to be re-imposed by the public health officer, the court will have to minimize courtroom operations.” — Kim Bartleson