By Melissa Davlin, Idaho Reports
Jury trials in Idaho are halted until at least January 4, 2021.
On Monday, the Idaho Supreme Court issued an order pausing both civil and criminal trials due to the substantial rise in COVID-19 cases statewide. The order, signed by Chief Justice Roger Burdick, said those cases have caused disruptions to jury trials in 95 percent of Idaho’s counties.
Citing metrics in a September order that resumed jury trials based upon COVID-19 incidence rates, Burdick wrote that just 5 percent of counties had sufficiently low incidence rates to hold jury trials on Nov. 6.
“The number of cancellations of jury trials on a weekly basis is now creating significant interruptions in court business, as well as challenges and hardships for all jury trial participants,” the order says.
The order does not affect existing pretrial deadlines, and encourages alternative dispute resolution procedures.
Melissa Davlin | Host, Lead Producer
Melissa Davlin is the lead producer and host of Idaho Reports. She has covered the Idaho Legislature since 2012. She also produces for Outdoor Idaho and Idaho Experience. Melissa serves as the president of the Idaho Press Club. She has won multiple awards for her work, including a regional Emmy for her documentary on Chinese immigration in Idaho, Idaho Press Club broadcast reporter of the year for 2015 and 2019, the Idaho Press Club First Amendment Award, the University of Idaho Silver and Gold Alumni Award, and the 2019 Boise State University Enhancing Public Discourse award. She lives in Boise with her husband and children.