Jury trials can resume in some MS counties during COVID-19 pandemic. What about the Coast?
The first indication that Mississippi could single out counties for reopening based on lower spread of COVID-19, and more specifically death rates, came Thursday evening in an order from the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Jury trials can resume after May 18 in counties with two or fewer COVID-19 deaths, the court says. In counties with more than two deaths, including all three Coast counties, court clerks must wait until June 15 to issue jury summonses.
Mississippi has 40 counties with two deaths or less and one county, Benton, on the Tennessee line in north Mississippi, with no deaths. So, half the 82 counties in the state will be able to resume jury trials before the other half.
Three of the counties with the lowest death rates and the ability to resume trials earlier are in South Mississippi: George, Greene and Stone.
Gov. Tate Reeves has repeatedly indicated that counties with wider spread of COVID-19 could be subject to longer restrictions. But, so far, his reopening announcements have applied statewide. The court’s order is an indication that Reeves could restrict future business openings and shelter-in-place directives in specific counties, based on COVID-19 spread and deaths.
The Mississippi State Health Department on Thursday announced 262 new cases of COVID-19 and 22 more deaths. Total cases in the state stand at 8,686, with 396 deaths.
The order signed by Chief Justice Michael Randolph indicates the court is taking its direction from two doctors at the State Health Department, State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs and State Epidemiologist Paul Byers.
The order cites MSHD statistics showing that COVID-19 deaths are mostly limited to specific portions of the population:
▪ 43% of deaths are in long-term care facilities.
▪ Only seven of 39 reported deaths involved individuals without significant underlying health conditions, including hypertension,cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, lung disease, neurological conditions, renal disease, immuno-compromised issues and liver disease.
▪ 88% of those who have died were 60 years old or older.
▪ Only one person under age 30 has died and nobody under 18 has died.
“Based on the latest information available to the Court,” the order concludes, “we find that modification of our prior Emergency Administrative Orders is warranted.”
The previous order was set to expire May 18. Cases involving jury trials are backlogged in many court systems, including those on the Coast.
Courts have continued taking pleas in criminal cases, but those have slowed down as well. Pleas must be taken in court. Some other proceedings also have continued in courtrooms by necessity through the pandemic, with cautions to avoid spread of the virus.
They include court proceedings related to emergency child-custody and mental-health orders, emergency protection of elderly or vulnerable persons, relief from abuse and other orders of protection, and mandatory youth court detention hearings for young people in custody.
Courts are holding other proceedings via teleconference where they can.
