BATTLE CREEK, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Calhoun County Courts announced Wednesday that no jury trials will be held through the remainder of 2020, due to high COVID-19 levels in the county.
In release, Chief Judge Michael L. Jaconette said “Taking into consideration the State Court Administrative Office’s (SCAO’s) recent directive mandating that courts cannot conduct jury trials unless their county’s public health data shows 70 million per day or fewer positive cases of COVID 19, the Judicial Council has determined that meeting this threshold is very unlikely to occur locally in the near future and therefore has opted to cancel jury trials in Calhoun County for the remainder of 2020.”
Jaconette said local public health data related to COVID-19 is continuously monitored and the courts are hopeful that Calhoun County jury panels may be called back beginning January 19, 2021, which is the start of the second scheduled term for jury service in 2021.
The Judicial Council will remain in contact with the county’s Public Health Officer and SCAO to assess whether panels may brought in for jury duty on that date and thereafter.
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