Daviess County has declared a moratorium on many jury trials for the remainder of the year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling covers civil matters over 5,000 dollars and criminal matters punishable by up to a year in the penitentiary. Circuit Judge Jay Wethington says trial by jury is a basic right.
“They want to be heard by a jury,” says Wethington, “which is a fundamental constitutional right. But the issue that I have is that I can’t provide that constitutional right to them at the moment.”
Officials are hoping to start having trials again by early next year.
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