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By
Andrew Michaels
- December 29, 2021
Court
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Daily Stories
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Maryland courts will postpone all jury trials and reduce operations to remote or in-person hearings for specific cases until Feb. 8, 2022, effective Dec. 29.
As COVID-19 cases spike amid the Omicron variant, the Maryland Judiciary reported on Dec. 27 that clerks’ offices in both the District Court of Maryland and circuit courts will remain open to the public as well as the Court of Appeals of Maryland and Court of Special Appeals of Maryland; however, the chief judge will determine whether to hold proceedings in-person or remotely.
The courts will finish all jury trials that are already underway, while jury trials scheduled between Dec. 29 and Feb. 8, 2022, will be rescheduled.
During a bail review hearing on Dec. 28, several attorneys said the number of reported COVID cases were rising in jails, making it difficult to contact their clients. A day later, Judge Melissa M. Phinn postponed eight cases, five of which involved homicide.
The Maryland Judiciary became fully operational in late April, with criminal jury trials beginning in early May. The Baltimore City Circuit Court has since had approximately 23 criminal jury trials, with at least one undergoing jury selection prior to Monday’s announcement.