The Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, General Division, has issued an order extending its previous orders of March 16, 2020, April 6, 2020, May 12, 2020, May 27, 2020, and June 26, 2020, suspending all civil and criminal jury trials. The latest order, issued July 27, 2020, extends the suspension of jury trials through December 31, 2020. A copy of the court’s order is available here: COVID-19 – Administrative Order 2020.07.27. In its order, the court notes that jury trials may be conducted when unique and unavoidable circumstances are presented and considered on a case by case basis.
Previous orders by the court indicated the suspension of jury trials is necessitated by the potential reduction in the ability to maintain an adequate spectrum of prospective and seated jurors, the availability of counsel, litigants, witnesses, court staff, and others for pretrial and trial matters.
The Court continues to conduct hearings with jailed defendants by video conference, civil pretrial hearings by telephone conference call, and other routine matters. The court is also continuing COVID-19 mitigation protocols to enhance sanitation, cleaning, and personal hygiene throughout the Montgomery County Courts Building and its operations in the Reibold Building.
For further information regarding the action by the court and other items regarding the COVID-19 public health crisis as it affects the court and its operation, please contact Steven C. Hollon, Court Administrator, at 937.225.4305.
