The spike in COVID-19 variant-related cases in the area has caused the cancellation of trials scheduled for this week in Baxter County Circuit Court.
A number of prospective jurors have expressed their concerns to court officials about being around large numbers of people, particularly in light of the rapid spread of the omicron variant.
COVID-19 and the omicron variant have created disruptions in court schedules throughout the state for almost two years.
At one point, a significant portion of court sessions in Baxter County were done by way of video meeting technology.
The situation had begun to ease somewhat, allowing the resumption of direct person-to-person sessions.
Some trials have been held, but the effort to get defendants before a jury has not always gone smoothly. In one instance, a trial had to be delayed because not enough prospective jurors showed up.
Just as court operations began to return to the “new normal,” the omicron variant began to spread rapidly, causing an increase in the number of people falling ill.
Retired judge returns to the bench
One of the measures put in place to clear the docket of jury trials in the 14th Judicial District was to bring retired Circuit Judge Gordon Webb back to the bench.
Judge Webb has been assigned 20 cases throughout the district, including six in Baxter County.
The cases involve serious charges, such as murder and rape.
Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge says the cases given to Judge Webb are those expected to take the longest to try.
Having Judge Webb handling the cases will give Circuit Judge John Putman more time to get to other criminal matters on the docket.
Judge Webb has said his goal is to dispose of the cases assigned to him in February and March.
Baxter County continues to have 11 murder cases waiting to go before a jury.
There has been some talk that the state may be working on a plan to help clear the docket backlog.
Federal courts make changes
Federal courts in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas have also announced operational modifications in light of increased cases of COVID-19 and the omicron variant.
In the case of the Eastern District, modified operations will continue through at least Feb. 28.
Those modifications include, “all hearings in both of civil and criminal cases will be held by video-teleconference or telephone or postponed.”
An exception can be made if the presiding judge determines that “good cause exist for an in-person hearing.”
So both state and federal courts continue to adjust the way they operate depending on whether the number of cases for COVID-19 and its variant go up or down.
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