Maricopa County court suspends civil jury trials in COVID safety measure
Dec 8, 2020, 6:50 AM | Updated: 6:57 am
PHOENIX — Maricopa County Superior Court is suspending civil jury trials through February and limiting the number of criminal jury trials as a means to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Superior Court Presiding Judge Joseph Welty signed the order Dec. 3 in response to the escalating infection rates in Arizona’s most populated region.
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Under the Welty’s directive, no more than two criminal jury trials may proceed at one time on any floor in the Superior Court’s South Court tower and no more than one jury shall be empaneled per day.
Jury trials had resumed on a limited basis June 15, after a shutdown of several weeks. They were shut down again after an increase in virus cases, then were resumed Aug. 3.
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“Since recommencement of jury trials, the COVID-19 metrics in Maricopa County and the risks attendant with them have changed for the worse,” Welty wrote.
“New COVID-19 infections have risen steadily in Maricopa County since mid-October. By the end of November 2020,the Maricopa County Health Department was reporting in excess of 3,000 new cases per day,” he said.
Anyone entering the courthouse is required to wear a mask and has to pass a symptoms screening.
The court is encouraging people to fill out the jury questionnaire form online before coming in to help the court with the prescreening process.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
