The federal district court’s first jury trial since the COVID shutdown in March was scheduled to begin today pursuant to Judge Sippel’s July 6, 2020, order.
That was until a court security officer tested positive for the virus.
Now, the federal courts are closed again to in-person hearings and the Eagleton Courthouse is closed to the public.
https://www.moed.uscourts.gov/
This makes me wonder what would happen if they actually begin a trial and then someone associated with the courts or the trial tests positive? I’m assuming that a mistrial would need to be declared.
Or, what would happen if a person called for jury service later tested positive for the virus? Would everyone that they had contact with need to be tested and quarantined — the courthouse staff, for instance?
It seems to me the more people you bring into the court house, the greater the likelihood that someone will bring the virus with them.