Jury trials pushed back again due to COVID-19 surge; courthouses are still open

Joe Difazio, The Patriot Ledger
·2 min read

PLYMOUTH – The state's highest court extended a pause on trials through at least Valentine's Day due to a surge in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks.

The Supreme Judicial Court's latest pandemic-related pause started Jan. 3. Courthouses are still open and focusing on handling matters remotely, the court said.

Plymouth Trial Court, home to Plymouth County Superior Court and Plymouth District and other court sessions.
Plymouth Trial Court, home to Plymouth County Superior Court and Plymouth District and other court sessions.

“While we are encouraged by the trend in COVID-19 cases in the commonwealth, the additional two-week pause on jury trials is necessary to protect the health and safety of all who enter and work in our courthouses,” said Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly Budd in a statement. “Assuming the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline as expected, we do not anticipate any further pause beyond February 14."

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This is the second trial pause of the pandemic. The first happened in 2020. In Norfolk County, jury trials were briefly moved to Lombardo's, an event hall in Randolph, in 2021 to allow for social distancing.

The pause on trials will push back the murder trial of Rockland's Allen Warner, who is accused of killing his estranged wife, Shana Warner, in Marshfield more than three years ago. The trial was set to start on Feb. 7.

Budd said in the statement that though they expect the pause to end in February, it could change of the situation worsens.

"As throughout the pandemic, however, all plans and expectations regarding the resumption of jury trials may be adjusted at any time in the ongoing effort to balance the safety of court users and personnel with the fundamental constitutional right to a trial by jury," Budd said.

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Joe Difazio can be reached at jdifazio@patriotledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @jldifazio.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Jury trials pushed back another 2 weeks amid COVID surge