Maryland Courts Postpone All Jury Trials Until 2021 

On Thursday, the Maryland Judiciary announced that all jury trials will be postponed to 2021.

Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera ordered that courts roll back from Phase 5 to Phase 3 of reopening beginning Monday. The short-lived Phase 5 began on Oct. 5; jury trials had resumed for the first time since March. Courts will remain in Phase 3 until at least Dec. 31, pending further guidance. Trials in which a jury has already been empaneled are allowed to continue.

Barbera cited a spike in COVID-19 cases as a main reason for her directives. On Friday, the state recorded over 1,800 new infections, setting a record high daily increase since the pandemic began.

While there are no jury trials under Phase 3, some cases will be heard remotely or in-person.

About Maryam Shahzad

Maryam is a reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Previously, she was an intern with MCM. She can be reached at mshahzad@mymcmedia.org or on Twitter @maryam_mcm.

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