What is the longest continuous period of time a court or court system in the United States has not held any in-person jury trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Top Answers
Branch County, Michigan—approximately 672 days
As of 10 January 2022, Branch County, Michigan reportedly has not held a criminal jury trial since sometime in 2019. This seems to be due, in part, to the small number of criminal cases normally tried by jury in the county, but also due to the pandemic. A Branch County judge "hopes" to resume in person jury trials in March 2022.
Information regarding the specific date when jury trials were suspended in Branch County or when the last criminal jury trial held in the county concluded has been requested from the County Clerk.
Governor Whitmer confirmed on 10 March 2020 the first cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. Using this as the approximate start date of the criminal jury trial suspension, as of the time of this calculation on 11 January 2022 Branch County would have not held a criminal jury trial, specifically due to the pandemic, in 672 days
References:
- Circuit Court Jury Trials Could Begin in March, The Daily Reporter, 10 January 2022
"For the first time since 2019, Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady hopes to restart criminal jury trials.
Some counties, like Ingham, have tried cases over the last several months. Branch County has not because of difficulties in meeting COVID-19 guidelines to prevent spread of the virus."
