KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jackson County Circuit Court said Wednesday it will not hold any more jury trials until at least 2021.
“Every day is a new fight against this pandemic,” Presiding Judge David Byrn said in a news release. “Unfortunately, the recent significant spike in cases, hospitalizations, deaths and increasing concern about community spread has led the Court to determine that jury trials should be canceled through the end of the year.”
The court began holding jury trials at the Eastern Jackson County Courthouse in Independence in late September. New protocols were put in place that included bringing in fewer jurors, shortening the time jurors were inside the courthouse and prequalifying jurors so that only those who could serve had to report.
“The Court is pleased that our efforts to maintain the health and safety of citizens called to serve as jurors were successful and jurors felt safe while fulfilling their civic responsibility,” Byrn said. “However, changing circumstances have led to the decision to temporarily postpone additional jury trials.”
The court had planned to resume jury trials at the downtown Kansas City, Missouri, courthouse but had to postpone after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
