TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jul 22, 2020

The COVID-19 threat did not scare away Knox citizens summoned for the first masked jury trial in the county since the pandemic impacted court operations across the state. The first day “went off without a hitch,” Knoxnews reports. Of the 63 citizens summoned for jury duty, only one did not show and most arrived already donning masks. No one raised health concerns when Criminal Court Judge Kyle Hixson made his initial remarks to prospective jurors. Responding to concerns about public access to proceedings, Hixson designated one seat in the courtroom for the public and had a video feed set up outside the courtroom during jury selection. Once the jury was chosen, he allowed members of the public and the media to be in the courtroom so long as social distancing guidelines were met.