With jury trials now able to resume in Georgia, the Northeastern Judicial Circuit was prepared and ready to get back to business Wednesday morning when they summoned jurors for the first time in Hall County in nearly a year.
According to Jason Stephenson, Court Administrator for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Hall County Superior Court Judge Bonnie Oliver had already geared up to resume jury trials immediately once Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold D. Melton gave the okay to do so.
"We had 150 jurors that were summoned, and brought them in this morning to start the first trial in the county in a year," Stephenson said.
Stephenson said a jury committee convened last year to decided what precautions would need to be taken to keep trials safe in Hall County during the COVID-19 pandemic, while still adhering to the constitution.
Some of the precautions that were established include reconfiguring the court space to allow for social distancing, a mask mandate in the courthouse, minimized surface contact where possible and staggered report times for jurors, among others.
"Jurors are an indispensable part of the American justice system," Stephenson said. "Criminal proceedings and justice cannot happen without jurors in the building ... It's exciting for all of us here at the courthouse that we can do that safely.
When it comes to upcoming cases, Stephenson said they started off with a less complex case this week so that all of the health protocols could be tested. After the court health protocols are adjusted, Stephenson said the public can expect higher-profile cases to come forward.
