The chief judge of the Northern District of Georgia has reluctantly extended the suspension of federal jury trials until January in an order filed Tuesday, saying the state now ranks fourth in the nation in total COVID-19 cases. 

U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash said that, while he has concluded the eventual resumption of both civil and criminal jury trials "cannot await the complete demise" of COVID-19, he would not resume jury trials if it poses a risk to the public.