New ruling means no jury trials in Arkansas until May 1

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Photos: 11 people are now facing murder trials in Baxter County Circuit Court. Pictured are: (top row, from left) Ryan James Lindsey; Allison Cunningham, Skyler Brazil, Ashley Hendricks, James Tyler Davis; Jeffery Shepherd, (bottom row) Savannah Wren, Baxter Stowers, Amber Runau, Jonathan Mauldin and Robert Dean Penny.

There will be no jury trials in Arkansas until May 1, according to a ruling issued Friday by the Arkansas Supreme Court.

The action to extend the prohibition of jury trials was taken due “to a continued high level of COVID-19 positive tests and hospitalizations,” the court’s order noted.

Through the continuing course of the pandemic, the state’s highest court has scheduled various times for jury trials to resume but pushed the dates back because infection and hospitalization numbers continued to track upward.

In its most recent ruling, the court noted it was “encouraged by the recent downward trend in COVID-19 infections in the state and the increase in vaccinations.”

The court noted it would continue to monitor trends and, if positive progress continues, jury trial would be allowed to resume May 1.

The inability to hold jury trials is creating significant backlogs.

For example, in Baxter County, 11 people charged with murder or manslaughter are waiting on dates for their cases to come before a jury.

Non-jury proceedings are taking place, including arraignments, routine docket calls and certain hearings.

But, there are restrictions being imposed.

They include limiting the number of people allowed to sit in the courtroom and the implementation of a scanning process for those entering the courtroom to detect possible COVID-19 symptoms.

The Supreme Court issues such orders under its superintending authority over all other courts in the state.

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