Supreme Court says in-person hearings, jury trials, can resume

By Patrick Lynn

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday announced it has decided to allow courts to resume in-person hearings and jury trials, provided circuit and municipal court systems devise plans to protect participants and observers from the coronavirus.

The Supreme Court suspended in-person hearings and jury trials in March, ordering judges to push back trials until after May 22. Chief Justice Patience Roggensack convened a task force in April, tasking judges, court clerks, and attorneys to examine how to resume in-person proceedings. The task force issued recommendations calling for anyone in courtrooms to wear facemasks, observe social distancing, and use hand sanitizers. Clerks are also being asked to include a note in jury summons outlining the precautions respective courts have taken.

Friday’s order allows the courts to reopen on a county-by-county basis if the courts prepare a plan to do so safely.

Plans must include plans for cleaning frequently touched surfaces, require courthouse signs directing people to hand sanitizer, and mandates facemasks for everyone present in a courtroom, although witnesses can be allowed to testify without one.

The chief judge of each judicial administrative district must approve the plans before proceedings can resume. The chief judge’s signature would invalidate the Supreme Court’s suspensions and allow hearings and trial to resume in the local court that submitted the plan.