Jury trials resume in Madison County
Jury trials resumed in Madison County this month with extra steps taken ensure safety from COVID-19.
The Canton Multipurpose Center became the venue for the selection of a Madison County Circuit Court jury on Sept. 8 before the trial later moved to the Courthouse.
Jury trials began after six months of delays due to COVID-19. Because large numbers of people are summoned for jury service, jury qualification and selection was moved to larger facilities to provide social distancing.
“This was the largest place that I could find,” Circuit Judge John Emfinger said during a break in jury selection at the Canton Multipurpose Center. The large activity room would seat 91 people. Judge Emfinger split the prospective jurors into two groups, conducting jury qualifying with one group in the morning and with a second group in the afternoon. By mid-afternoon, 88 people were ready to serve as jurors.
When trials moved back to courthouses, courtrooms were rearranged to continue social distancing and provide extra safety measures. In Madison County Circuit Court, three-sided plexiglass enclosures were installed around each juror’s chair.
“It’s just a matter of making sure we are as safe as possible,” Judge Emfinger said.
In an effort to deter sick people from coming to court, letters were sent to all prospective jurors telling them not to come to court if they were ill, were caring for someone who was ill, or if they had other risk factors. Everyone wore masks. The courtroom will be cleaned multiple times each day. Blue tape “x” marks on a counsel table and on courtroom seats remind everyone to keep their distance. Jurors will deliberate in an adjacent courtroom rather than the jury room.
Judge Emfinger told potential jurors, “You are here today to try to relieve that (backlog) that has built up over the past six months.” He said, “I’ve often heard that jury service is the most important peace time service that you can do. That is especially true during these times.”
Circuit Judge Steve Ratcliff said, “COVID has required us to make certain adjustments to our dockets. We want to make sure the system moves as fairly and expeditiously as possible with as many safeguards as we can manage.”