INDIANAPOLIS — In-person jury trials are set to resume in April in all divisions of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, the court said on Friday.
The court has suspended in-person jury trials for several months because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In-person jury trials are set to resume April 5, according to Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson. In addition, the clerk's offices in all divisions will reopen to the public on Feb. 16.
In an effort to reduce foot traffic and ease accessibility, the court said it will continue to accept filings from pro se litigants via email. Drop boxes for filings also remain accessible at all courthouses.
According to the court, the resumption of jury trials does not preclude a judge from continuing a jury trial for reasons related to the pandemic nor, for criminal jury trials, making the necessary findings to exclude any such delay under the Speedy Trial Act.
The clerk may also temporarily excuse any person summoned for jury service upon a showing of undue hardship or extreme inconvenience, but the potential juror will be summoned again for jury service at a later date or be reinserted into the jury wheel.
