The Delaware Judiciary unveiled a plan to resume jury trials in October.
On Friday, Delaware Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr. released a detailed plan to restart jury trials in October and extended the current judicial emergency an additional 30 days until October 5, 2020.
The resumption of jury trials will mark a move to a modified Phase 3 of the Delaware Judiciary’s four-phase reopening plan that was released in May.
In addition to resuming jury trials, the move to a modified Phase 3 will also allow court facilities and staffing to increase up to 75 percent capacity (up from 50 percent capacity in Phase 2) and increase the number of people allowed in courtrooms to accommodate jury trials.
“Since the pandemic struck earlier this year, the Courts have made significant changes to address health and safety issues – screening all who enter our facilities, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, requiring masks and social distancing while in our buildings — and in our court facilities themselves – installing plastic shields in public areas and courtrooms and making hand sanitizer easily available. The jury plan builds on those changes and incorporates best practices to address the unique needs of jury service, allowing us to resume jury trials under the safest conditions possible,” said Seitz.
At the same time, the Chief Justice said he continues to monitor the situation and consult with state health officials and the Courts’ infectious disease expert, Dr. Alfred Bacon. While an October target date for jury trials has been set, the Chief Justice said that the modified Phase 3 plans – as set forth in the emergency order – will only go forward if the spread of COVID-19 remains under control. The move to Phase 3 could be delayed or pulled back if COVID-19 conditions worsen in Delaware.
Jury trials in Delaware State Courts were halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
