The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has suspended all civil and criminal jury trials until April 13, due to a juror shortage caused by emergency measures to contain the virus.

The standing order from Chief Judge Juan R. Sanchez was issued Friday afternoon. While trials have been put on hold Sanchez noted that grand juries will continue to meet.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and State and local public health authorities have advised that precautions be taken to avoid exposure to the virus and prevent its spread, including implementing social distancing measures such as avoiding large gatherings and refraining from non-essential travel,” Sanchez said. “These and other recent developments with regard to COVID-19 in the geographic area comprising this district adversely affect the court’s ability to obtain an adequate complement of trial jurors from a fair cross-section of the community.”

Sanchez’s full order can be read below:

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