Courts / Life

Court Suspends All Civil And Criminal Jury Trials, Jury Duty Cancelled

- by Staff Writer

The Delaware Superior Court has issued an order that suspends all civil and criminal jury trials until April 15, 2020, Anyone summoned for jury duty during this period is excused and should not report. The Grand Jury and other proceedings that involve smaller groups of people will continue to go forward.

The order reads as follows:

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 

STANDING ORDER No. 2 CONCERNING COVID-19 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES 

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the Superior Court entered a Standing Order Concerning COVID-19 Precautionary Measures (“Standing Order No. 1”) in the interest of protecting jurors, parties, witnesses, lawyers, judges and court staff; 

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court entered an Order Declaring a Judicial Emergency, effective 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2020, which provides the trial courts with the discretion to continue criminal and civil trials for a period of 30 days, and to utilize audiovisual devices to conduct proceedings, in order to limit the number of people gathering in public court buildings; 

WHEREAS, the Superior Court has reviewed its scheduling practices and believes that modifications to its current scheduling practices could further limit the number of people gathering in public court buildings; 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this Standing Order No. 2 shall supplement Standing Order No. 1 and is effective 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2020, subject to further review: 

  1. All Civil and Criminal Jury Trials are suspended through and including April 15, 2020. 
  2. Petit jury duty is suspended through and including April 15, 2020. Individuals summoned for petit jury duty during this time period are excused and should not appear. 
  3. Grand Jurors should report as directed. 
  4. First Case Reviews are suspended through and including April 15, 2020. 
  5. Final Case Reviews for non-incarcerated defendants are postponed. Final Case Reviews for incarcerated defendants remain as scheduled. 
  6. Pleas by Appointment remain as scheduled. 
  7. Veteran’s Court, Mental Health Court, TASC Calendar, Drug Court and Reentry Court Status Hearings are postponed. Entries in these Problem Solving Courts remain as scheduled. Problem Solving Court violations will be heard at the discretion of the judicial officer. 
  8. Involuntary Commitments remain as scheduled. 
  9. Violation of Probation hearings for non-incarcerated offenders are postponed. Violation of Probation hearings for incarcerated offenders will be heard at the discretion of the judicial officer. 

President Judge Jan R. Jurden