The Van Buren County Courts are preparing to resume jury trials. Administrator Frank Hardester tells WSJM News they shut everything down when COVID arrived.
“Most of the jury trials were adjourned, or in some fashion or form the cases may have resolved themselves, but at this point, we’re ready to get back into the swing of things of scheduling jury trials now that we’ve taken the appropriate safety precautions for those cases that have not settled or resolved in some fashion,” Hardester said.
Hardester says the courts are following the recommendations of the Van Buren County Health Department and the CDC. They’ll select juries at off-site locations where distancing can be maintained, and then hold the trials at the courthouse with sanitation, masks, and distancing. Those who have a direct interest in a trial could be allowed in, but Hardester says there are better ways to watch.
“We do encourage the public to attend our proceedings. They can do so virtually, either via the Zoom app, or in some cases they can hop on our livestream that’s available via YouTube.”
You can watch court proceedings right here. Jury summons have been mailed for trials that are scheduled in the coming weeks. Hardester expects the first trials could start in mid to late October.
