The E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington, D.C., home of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, on June 6. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM
As COVID-19 cases spike, federal courts across the United States are taking a step back by suspending jury trials or grand jury proceedings, and slowing other courthouse activities.
Many U.S. district courts are still holding jury trials, but 25 district courts that have issued recent orders to curb the practice are saying that new diagnoses and hospitalizations have made it an unacceptable risk to convene juries, according to a statement by the U.S. Courts. Conditions may worsen this winter, the statement said.
