Sacramento Superior Court to resume jury trials next month. Here are the precautions
The Sacramento Superior Court will resume jury trials June 15, about three months after officials began to shut down most courthouse operations to slow the coronavirus spread.
Jury trials were suspended March 20, when the court limited public access to court facilities as California authorities responded to the pandemic. Officials were trying to limit the number of people infected with the respiratory disease COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus.
The court has remained closed, except for essential services. Courthouses and courtrooms were closed to most judicial business, and those criminal hearings allowed to proceed were livestreamed. Earlier this month, court officials announced that they anticipated restarting jury trials in mid-July.
On Thursday, court officials announced that two jury trials in criminal cases resumed Tuesday. These cases had been suspended because of the court closure.
Additional criminal jury trials will resume June 15 as part of a phased restoration of court operations, officials said in a news release. They said they have implemented a plan designed to assure strict enforcement of safety precautions to protect jurors, staff and members of the public who enter court facilities.
Sacramento County sheriff’s court security officers were to begin conducting temperature checks on May 15 on those entering the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse on Ninth Street.
The court’s safety precautions include:
- Stay home; anyone who is sick or has COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed to enter court facilities.
Reducing the number of jurors asked to report for jury duty at any one time, and there will be staggering arrival times throughout the day. Jurors are encouraged to follow the steps outlined in their jury summons.
Court employees, jurors and members of the public will be required to wear facial coverings in court facilities.
Anyone entering a court facility will have their temperature taken through non-invasive means. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will not be allowed to enter.
There will be physical distancing throughout the courthouse, with floor and seat guidelines to help and remind everyone. Elevator will be restricted to two people at a time.
The court has increased routine cleaning with a focus on frequently touched surfaces and common areas, including elevators, courtrooms, jury assembly rooms and restrooms.
“The court cannot provide jury trials without the participation of citizens,” court officials said in the news release. “With our plan for safe access to the justice system, the court is ready to safely welcome this critical part of the justice system back into our courtrooms.”
For more information about jury duty or to request a jury duty postponement, go online and visit saccourt.ca.gov and click on “Info Centers” or call jury services at 916-874-7775.
