United States:
Trials against Cook County Jury continue
May 08, 2021
Jenner & Block
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After nearly thirteen months, the Cook County civil jury trials are due to resume. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, civil court cases have all but ceased in Cook County courts. However, Cook County’s Chief Circuit Court Justice Timothy C. Evans and Legal Justice James P. Flannery, Jr. have each issued administrative orders allowing civil juries to be retried.
On March 23, 2021, Chief Judge Evans issued an amended administrative ordinance, GAO 2020-07, which set May 3, 2021 as the target retrial date. Cook County Cir. Ct. GAO 2020-07, § 1.a.iv. (effective March 23, 2021). The resolution states that legal proceedings can be held in all departments and departments and can be conducted either in person, via video conference, or a combination of both. I would. in § 1.a.iv.3. These decisions are made at the discretion of the presiding judge, provided resources and public health guidelines permit. I would. in § 1.a.iv.
On April 1, 2021, Presiding Judge Flannery Jr. issued GAO 21-1, which established the procedure for rescheduling legal proceedings. According to the order, judicial proceedings of the jury will be postponed from the cases originally scheduled for March 17, 2020. Cook County Law Division GAO 21-1, 1 (effective April 1, 2021). The court will then chronologically determine the jury’s trials based on their original trial dates. I would. Court dates are at the discretion of Presiding Judge James P. Flannery, Jr. Id. Parties will be given at least 30 days’ notice prior to commencement of legal proceedings. I would.
Commentators have suggested that the courts are likely to hear fewer court cases than they did before COVID 19 because the courts cannot use rooms that are not conducive to social distancing. See Marc Karlinsky, Cook Co. to resume trials of the civil jury on May 3 in Chi. Daily L. Bull. (March 25, 2021), https: //www.chicagolaw bulletin.com/law-division-trials-resume-20210407 (quoted from a spokeswoman for Chief Judge Evans).
If you are going into an in-person trial, keep in mind that Cook County’s Circuit Court requires everyone in the courthouse to follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask or face covering, Cook County Cir. Ct. GAO 2020-07, 1-2 (effective March 23, 2021) and familiarize yourself with other COVID-19-related rules and procedures.
For more information on the Illinois and Cook County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, see Jenner & Block’s COVID-19 Companion Guide to the Illinois Civil Practice Guide. For more information on civil practice before courts in Illinois, see Jenner & Block’s 2021 Illinois Civil Practice Guide.
The content of this article is intended to provide general guidance on the subject. A professional should be consulted about your particular circumstances.
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