| Adopted Date: | 10/15/2020 |
|---|---|
| Effective Date: | 10/15/2020 |
| Updates: | Issued October 15, 2020, effective October 15, 2020 |
As noted in Standing Order 9-20, which remains in effect, the District Court has been authorized by the Supreme Judicial Court’s Fourth Updated Order Regarding Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Pandemic (SJC’s Fourth Order) to begin Phase 1 in the resumption of jury trials on or after October 23, 2020. This Standing Order, which is effective immediately, sets forth the schedule and procedure for this Phase I implementation and will remain in effect until further order of this Court.
This Phase 1 resumption is limited to juries of six (with 1-2 alternates), with no more than one trial at a time conducted in each location. As the implementation challenges are quite high, requiring substantial logistical planning and considerations, and coordination among numerous Trial Court Departments, the process will necessarily be gradual and deliberate. If Massachusetts experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases, a re-instatement of shutdown orders, or problems encountered in the scheduled implementation, corresponding adjustments to the process will be necessary.