TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Sep 28, 2020

The Shelby County Criminal Court plans to start holding jury trials again beginning Oct. 1, the Commercial Appeal reports. The court had suspended jury trials in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now preparing to allow a limited number of trials using social distancing and masks. "We're prioritizing those who have been in custody the longest and the most severe offenses," said Criminal Court Judge John W. Campbell, who signed the order allowing cases to restart. According to the order, individual judges have the discretion to choose which cases to move forward based on case characteristics and public health guidelines. Meanwhile, the U.S. Court for the Western District of Tennessee restarted trials at its Jackson location last week and plans to restart trials at its Memphis location in October. That court is also using face shields and plexiglass barriers for additional protection, the court clerk reports.