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Calhoun County cancels jury trials through end of 2020 because of rising COVID-19 cases

Court gavel file photo
Posted at 11:12 PM, Nov 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-05 23:12:28-05

CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich. — Jury trials have been suspended in Calhoun County through the end of the year because of the significant increase in COVID-19 cases, officials said Wednesday.

The threshold below which jury trials may take place is 70 cases per million residents per day – and the Judicial Council says it’s unlikely the county will meet this threshold in the near future.

Court officials say they’re hopeful that jury panels may be called in again starting Jan. 19, 2021, which is the start of the second scheduled term for jury service next year.

That will only be determined based on public health data and guidelines, however.

“The Calhoun County judiciary and our staff members will continue to work diligently to ensure that cases will be processed as safely and efficiently as possible under the current public health conditions and in keeping with the administrative parameters set forth by the Michigan Supreme Court,” a news release said.