FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Allen Circuit and Superior Courts will extend the current pause in jury trials until at least Feb. 28, 2022.
Representatives say that the pause in jury trials, which began on Jan. 24, 2022, will permit the Courts to continue protecting the health of jurors and staff while COVID-19 cases in the community begin to decline.
Superior Court halted trials due to the dramatic increase in positive COVID-19 cases and illness among litigants, jurors, prosecutors and other staff. While the pause in trials continues, bench trials, sentencings and guilty pleas will take place as scheduled.
“We are anxious to resume jury trials, but not until it’s safe to do so,” said Judge Frances C. Gull, Administrative Judge of Superior Court’s Criminal Division. “COVID cases in our community are falling, but we have more progress to make before we get underway again. The safety of the participants and jurors has to remain our number one priority.”
The decision to extend the pause in jury trials was unanimously supported by the Circuit and Superior Court Judges.
While the numbers are always in flux due to continuances and guilty pleas, the continuation will affect approximately 60 jury trials. Other counties around Indiana have announced similar halts to jury trials as COVID-19 cases have increased.
Anyone who has received a jury summons for a date between Feb. 14, 2022, and Feb. 25, 2022, may disregard that notice.
