Courts in Stoddard and Dunklin counties were able this week to move into phase two of their COVID-19 recovery plan for the first time.
Phase two allows more people in the courtroom at one time, said Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer, who issued an administrative order Jan. 19 for the 35th Judicial Circuit.
Even more significant, said Mayer, is that by phase three, courts can begin jury trials again.
Division 1 currently has more than 100 jury trials from March to October 2020 that were put on hold, he said.
That number does not include any trials or hearings on hold in associate courts, and does not include items such as adoption hearings.
“(This) gets us closer to operating in phase three,” said Mayer. “We’re hopeful sometime in the next couple of months we can resume jury trials.
“We’re monitoring closely the local health conditions through county health departments and medical professionals.”
The 35th Circuit was in Phase 0 through much of December. Mayer issued an order Dec. 31 that allowed the courts to move into phase one. Courts have to be in their current phase for two weeks before proceeding forward, according to state operational directives.
Under Missouri Supreme Court guidelines, nearly all in-person proceedings are suspended in operating phase zero.
The exceptions are proceedings necessary to protect the constitutional rights of criminal defendants, including the rights to a speedy trial and bonds, and civil cases pertaining to such matters as orders of protection, emergency child custody orders, temporary restraining orders and emergency mental health orders.
Phase one allows for more in-person proceedings to be held, but also limits the courtroom capacity to 10 people.
Phase two allows for a maximum of 25 people, not including courtroom personnel.
“We’re optimistic and of course, with more people being vaccinated, that will be helpful,” said Mayer.