Upcoming WilCo Trial Jury Selection Canceled Due To Coronavirus

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Jury selection for a trial had been set for Monday has been canceled as a result of uncontrolled community spread of the coronavirus, officials said Friday.

"Jury trials are critical to ensuring that the orderly adminstration of justice continues in our county, County Court at Law #2 Judge Laura Barker said in a prepared statement. "Howeve, the health and safety of our fellow citizens has and will always be a primary concern. Because of this, we must cancel the trial scheduled on Jan. 11."

As a result, county officials said, jurors who had been summoned for jury service on Monday need not appear.

Responding to a Patch inquiry, District Court Administrator Ronald Morgan wrote in an email that there were 10 cases on the affected jury docket, of which one could have potentially gone to trial. The charges range from assault family violence to DWI to indecent exposure, Morgan added.

Officials explained the county has adopted Jury Trial plans tha will allow or trials to be scheduled for each week. In the week before a trial is set to begin, Judge Betsy Lambeth, the local administrative district jurist, consults with Dr. Lori Palazzo, the Williamson County Health Authority, to ensure circumstances are appropriate for the trial to go forward. It was after such consultation that the upcoming trial was canceled, county officials said.

The next potential date for a jury trial to take place will be the week of Feb. 1, officials said. The courts intend to to follow the same process in advance of that trial to determine whether it is safe to proceed at that time, county officials said.

Prospective jurors and the public can visit the county's Justice Center Operations portal for information about health and safety precautions at the Justice Center.