County resumes trials after pandemic halt

Boulder County has once again resumed trials this week, marking the end of a four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus.

March marks almost a year since trials were first halted in the early days of the pandemic. Trials resumed in the summer, but a resurgence in cases led Boulder Chief Judge Ingrid Bakke to stop them again in November.

But this week, both county and district cour t trials resumed, though Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said the courts would limit the amount of trials to star t.

“I’m ver y excited for trials to get under way this week,” Dougherty said. “Since our top priority is community safety, trials are a key par t of us being able to achieve justice in ever y case.”

Dougher ty said cour ts will return with most of the same health measures it put in place when trials returned in the summer. He said attorneys and judges have been consulting with local health of ficials.

“We’ve worked closely with them to make sure health and safety protocols are in place to protect ever yone who comes in,” Dougher ty said.

Both prosecutors and defense attorneys have been clamoring to resume trials, as the lengthy delays due to the pandemic have created a large backlog of cases and a host of possible legal issues.

In Boulder County, there are 113 felony jur y trials scheduled for the next 100 days.

“This is the beginning of us getting through this tremendous backlog and allowing the justice system to function,” Dougher ty said.

But even at a slow pace, Dougher ty said trials resuming at all will help in resolving cases that wind up not going to trial.

“Having the prospect of trials is a key par t of justice system working the way it should,” Dougherty said.