15 Minutes with FIJA

9 November 2020

This short, weekly event features a quick 15-minute presentation from FIJA:

• to update you on recent jury-related news such as the status of trial by jury during the pandemic, court cases related to jury rights, legislation regarding trial by jury, etc., and
• highlight one FIJA project, resource, activity, etc.

We'll start on time, pack that 15 minutes with information, and then you can be on your way. Optionally, you can stick around for another 15 minutes for a quick Q&A session afterward.

Our next session with be on 16 November 2020 at 6:30 pm Mountain time. Register in advance for this meeting:

Register just once and you will get the information you need to attend any and/or all of the November sessions. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We'll also send you reminders each Monday so you don't miss a session!

References

• Death row inmate Scott Peterson gets new sentencing trial due in part to faulty jury selection
  • Scott Peterson New Sentencing Trial Now Set for January 2021
  • Scott Peterson is back in court. Here's the latest on the infamous case.
  • People v. Peterson (.pdf, California Supreme Court Opinion)
  • Docket (Register of Actions)
  • Death-Qualified Juries and the Flowers Trial
• Ogden judge skeptical of motion to inform jurors of death penalty costs
• Jury trials delayed due to reluctant jurors
  • COVID continues to hinder courts: A lack of willing jurors could delay Hartford’s first, post-pandemic criminal jury trial
  • ​​​​​​Trial backlog in Mobile County
• Status of trials by jury in courts around the country
  • Suspended until 2021
    • Arkansas (Eastern District): Federal trials in state delayed by pandemic
    • Colorado: General Order 2020-19: COURT OPERATIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (.pdf)
    • Minnesota: U.S. district court in Minnesota postpones jury trials until 2021
    • Colorado 2nd Judicial District (Denver County), 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln Counties), 20th Judicial District (Boulder County): A look at metro Denver courts' jury trial plans amid rising COVID-19 cases
    • Douglas County, Nebraska: Douglas County District Court announces postponement of criminal jury trials
    • Detroit: With coronavirus cases on the rise, Detroit court suspends jury trials until next year
  • Postponed, but expected to resume later this year
    • Colorado 17th Judicial District (Adams and Broomfield Counties): A look at metro Denver courts' jury trial plans amid rising COVID-19 cases
    • Idaho 2nd District: Criminal jury trials put on hold in Idaho’s 2nd District
    • Massachusetts: New delay in resuming jury trials frustrating lawyers
    • Bucks County, Pennsylvania: Criminal jury trials suspended in Bucks as judicial emergency is extended
  • Criminal jury trials resuming with anti-COVID measures/limitations
    • Colorado 1st Judicial District (Gilpin and Jefferson Counties): A look at metro Denver courts' jury trial plans amid rising COVID-19 cases
    • Eerie County, New York: Trials resuming in Erie County superior courts
    • Volusia County, Florida: Volusia County holds first jury trial since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown in March
    • Guilford County, North Carolina: Guilford County courthouses to open for first time since beginning of pandemic
    • Salt Lake City, Utah: Mothballed jury trials may return this month to Salt Lake County in pilot program
    • 28 courts across Virginia are approved to resume trials by jury: Jury trials to resume in Tazewell County
    • Santa Cruz County, CA: Criminal trials, jury duty, resuming in Santa Cruz County