The Chief Justice has suspended all jury trials scheduled from March 16, 2020 to August 3, 2020. Prospective jurors may be summoned starting June 11, 2020 and juries empaneled commencing July 6, 2020. The 7th Judicial District will phase in jury calls commencing then, so long as all applicable local and state Executive Orders and Public Health Orders may be complied with while doing so. The health and safety of the public, including but not limited to prospective jurors, jurors, witnesses, parties, counsel, court staff and judges are of paramount concern. All county specific proposals will be confirmed with local health officials.
Press Release:
The District will provide a press release to assure the communities of the 7th Judicial District that the Courts are practicing and implementing procedures to ensure social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19, and to explain that jury trials are essential to our system of justice and therefore need to continue to be held with precautions in place. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Public Health Order 20-28 of June 5, 2020, provides that Critical Government Functions are to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people or provide sufficient spaces where appropriate distancing can be maintained if larger gathering are required by law, such as for some government functions like trials.
COVID-19 verbiage and signage:
Verbiage for phones and website:
“The Court takes public health and safety seriously and has implemented aggressive policies to prevent the risk of infection for jurors and other court users. All jurors will be required to wear facial coverings or masks. We encourage you to bring your own mask with you to the courthouse. Those who report for jury duty without a mask will be provided one by court staff for the duration of their trial. Social distancing will be adhered to by all court participants and the courtroom and the courthouse will be sanitized daily. “
Currently posted on website:
“NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19: PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE COURTHOUSE if: (1) you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and you have not completed the required public health mandated isolation; (2) you have been in direct contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past fourteen days; (3) you are experiencing a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or any other respiratory illness symptoms. If you are summoned to report for jury duty, please contact the jury commissioner at (970) 252-4302 to reschedule your jury service. Some jurors are in a high-risk group. These include those over 65 years of age or persons who have an underlying medical condition which increases their risk if they are exposed to the virus. This would also include any individual that may be in a household with any individual who may have underlying medical conditions which would increase the risk of being exposed. If you believe you are in any of these groups, please call the Jury Commissioner at (970) 252- 4302.”
Post via a freestanding sign at the entry door to the courthouse:
NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19: PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED IN THIS LINE IF:
(1) you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and you have not completed the required public health mandated isolation;
(2) you have been in direct contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past fourteen days;
(3) you are experiencing a fever of 100.4 and above, cough, shortness of breath, or any other respiratory illness symptoms.
PLEASE IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE COURTHOUSE AND CONTACT THE CLERK OF COURT BY PHONE AT 970-252-4300 (NUMBER SPECIFIC TO COURT LOCATION) FOR ASSISTANCE, OR THE JURY COMMISSIONER AT 970-252-4302 TO RESCHEDULE YOUR JURY SERVICE.
Post via a freestanding sign after entry to the courthouse prior to reaching check-in table:
COVID -19 NOTICE TO THOSE IN A HIGH-RISK GROUP OR LIVING WITH ONE IN A HIGH-RISK GROUP:
If you are in a high-risk group which includes those over 65 years of age or persons who have an underlying medical conditions which increases your risk if exposed or live in a household with an individual who may have underlying medical conditions which would increase the risk of being exposed, and WISH TO RESCHEDULE YOUR JURY SERVICE, PLEASE NOTIFY THE BAILIFF UPON CHECKING IN.
Temperature readings of jurors will not be conducted unless required by local health departments. If such is required, the Courts will ask the County to provide staff for this purpose.
Postponement/Disqualification
A New Administrative Order will provide:
• Jurors who contact the Jury Commissioner prior to appearance indicating they (1) have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not completed the required public health mandated isolation; (2) have been in direct contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past fourteen days; (3) are experiencing a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or any other respiratory illness symptoms or; (4) are in a high risk group, have an underlying medical condition which increases their risk if exposed, or live in a household with an individual who may have underlying medical conditions which would increase the risk of being exposed shall be postponed by the Jury Commissioner to a later appearance date.
• Jurors who indicate to the Jury Commissioner at check-in for orientation or trial they (1) have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not completed the required public health mandated isolation; (2) have been in direct contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past fourteen days; (3) are experiencing a fever of 100.4 and above, cough, shortness of breath, or any other respiratory illness symptoms or (4) they are in a high risk group, have an underlying medical condition which increases their risk if exposed, or live in a household with an individual who may have underlying medical conditions which would increase the risk of being exposed shall be postponed by the Jury Commissioner to a later appearance date.
• The Jury Commissioner may excuse or reschedule jurors who appear for orientation and indicate upon check-in that they have concerns due to COVID-19 with appearing at the courthouse.
• If upon check-in for a trial, a juror indicates to the Jury Commissioner that they have concerns due to COVID-19 in appearing at the courthouse, they shall be checked in and instructed to provide their concerns to the presiding judge at the appropriate time for the judge’s determination of whether they can be excused.
• The Jury Commissioner may excuse or reschedule a juror who refuses to wear a mask upon check-in at either orientation or a trial.
Courthouse Preparations:
Courtrooms, jury rooms, and multi-purpose rooms will be measured and designated seats will be posted and marked for 6’ social distancing.
The outside entrance to the courthouse, as well as hallways for the jury check-in line, will also be marked for 6’ distancing.
Security will be asked to assist in flow of traffic entering the building.
Elevator signage will be in place to provide CDC COVID-19 guidelines.
Restroom signage on Public Restrooms may limit usage and will provide CDC COVID-19 guidelines. Some bathroom stalls may be labeled for non-use to provide for 6’ social distancing. Some sinks may be marked for non-use to create 6’ social distancing.
Signage will be added to vending machines that they are inoperable.
Water and cups will be removed from every courtroom.
Rubber gloves will be available to counsel, court staff and jurors for the handling of evidence.
Cleaning and Sanitizing:
Hand sanitizer and wipes will be located on each litigant table. Hand sanitizer will also be at the jury check-in desk and will be left there until jury is selected. Hand sanitizer will also be available in the jury deliberation rooms and at the Clerk’s window and Jury Commissioner’s window.
The Bailiff will wear a mask during juror check in and during the entire trial proceedings. Gloves will be worn for handling of summonses at jury check in and for any handling of documents. Gloves will also be worn during any sanitizing process. Sneeze guards will be placed at check-in table.
The Bailiff will wipe down jury deliberation room (table, arms of chairs, door handles) during lunch break and at the end of the day.
Coffee pots will be removed from jury deliberation room. Refrigerators and microwaves will be taped off with signage for “Non-Use”
Bags with individually wrapped snacks and disposable bottles of water will be provided for each juror, labeled with a specific juror number.
Juror Notebooks will be cleaned and sanitized by the bailiff at the beginning of the trial and placed in large Ziploc bags for each juror, labeled with a specific juror number.
Sanitized pens will be provided for jurors’ use. Jurors should place their respective pen in the bag with their jury notebook when not in use.
Rubber gloves will be available in the jury deliberation room for the handling of evidence.
The Bailiff will use “Juror” stickers throughout the entire process and will not provide the selected jurors with a laminated badge.
The Bailiff will wipe down chair and area at witness stand and add new mic cover after each witness testifies.
Instructions for trial:
Each judge will discuss with the jury commissioner and bailiff how jurors are to be seated for selection prior to commencement of trial.
Participants will be reminded to use 6’ social distancing when entering or leaving the courtroom, this includes instructing the jury to make sure to leave 6’ between each other when leaving the courtroom for the deliberation room.
Attorneys will be instructed to not use the lectern but address the court, jurors and witnesses from their respective counsel tables using the microphones at those tables. If more than one attorney will be speaking, mic covers will be available between use.
Attorneys speaking during voir dire will not be required to wear their mask, nor will jury panel members when answering any questions, nor witnesses testifying, as long as all are six feet from everyone else while speaking.
Once trial commences and jurors are in place, they will be required to wear their masks during the duration of the trial. They must wear their mask when moving from the courtroom to the jury deliberation room.
Witnesses must wear a mask when entering and exiting the courtroom.
Jurors will remain in the same assigned seating throughout the entire trial and in the same seating in the deliberation room throughout the entire trial.
It will be at the judge’s discretion whether jurors will be allowed to ask questions during the trial.
Any item of evidence, whether it is formally admitted or not, shall be handled by a person wearing gloves.
Sidebars are discouraged but can be conducted via email between the parties and the bench. Bench conferences and side bars will only be permitted with leave of the court.
Jurors shall maintain six-foot social distancing at all times during deliberation. They should not handle evidence unless wearing gloves. Court staff will be vigilant in reminding potential jurors/impaneled jurors and customers regarding social distancing.
Download: Continuation-of-Jury-Operations.pdf