CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Jury trials were suspended in mid-March as the Tennessee Supreme Court issued a State of Emergency order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
In late May, the court eased some of those restrictions and allowed jury trials to begin after July 3.
Starting the week of July 20, jurors will report to Montgomery County Circuit Court for jury selection, but several modifications have been made to adhere to the standing orders.
“We are continuing to be flexible as we get more information and guidelines on mitigating the risks of COVID-19 while keeping the courts open and carrying out essential constitutional functions,” said Judge Jill Ayers, presiding judge in Montgomery County.
Face masks and social distancing for jurors
Jury orientation, where jurors receive information on matters such as reporting for duty, calling in, attire and parking, has been modified.
On Tuesday, July 14, jurors started reporting in small groups to the Montgomery County Court Complex’s third floor. The jurors were summoned in groups of 50 instead of one large group. And no more than 38 people will report for each group after deferrals, excuses and medical exemptions are processed, according to Patty Arms, chief deputy of court operations in the Court Clerk’s Office.
The smaller jury groups will meet over the next four days, with three groups meeting Tuesday through Thursday and one group on Friday morning. The jurors meet on the third floor, but chairs have been placed 6 feet apart, to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The room is then sanitized after each jury orientation.
Face masks are mandatory in the court building as of July 13.
“We are supplying all jurors with face masks if they do not have their own, as well as making hand sanitizer available,” Arms said.
Jurors who have immune issues or are ill can call the clerk’s office at 648-5700, ext. 11607, to speak with the juror coordinator.
No more packed courtrooms
The next criminal jury trials are scheduled for the week of July 20 and July 27 in Ayers’ and Judge William Goodman’s courts.
The jury selection process usually includes a packed courtroom of potential jurors with several called up to be questioned by attorneys during what’s called the “voir dire” process.
Ayers said that won’t happen this time. Several changes will be made in each courtroom to create a social-distanced courtroom.
“Regarding voir dire, each courtroom is different with regard to capacity, but each has been marked for appropriate distancing,” Ayers said. “Potential jurors for voir dire will be spaced 6 feet apart in the jury box, in additional seating in front of the jury box, and in the courtroom. That may range from 26 people to 42 at a time in a courtroom.”
The original capacity for the courtroom gallery is 24 people in Judge Ayer’s court and 32 in Judge Goodman’s. That is not including the seating area for clerks, attorneys and staff.
Ayers said the number of jurors called in is decided by the judge based on each case, and if more jurors are needed than what the room can safely hold, they will be seated in the jury orientation room or an available courtroom (safely distanced) and the proceedings will be live streamed to them.
Trials will continue to be open to the public.
However, there may be limits on how many representatives from families of those involved can be present, depending on available seating in each courtroom, Ayers said.