Jury trials resume this month in Iowa after being suspended for a second time due to COVID-19 last November.

Washington County Attorney John Gish says a couple jury trials are anticipated at the courthouse this month, which will be his first since deploying for the U.S. Army Reserve last March. Gish says everyone in the courtroom will be required to wear face masks, and the jury will be spaced out to avoid the spread of COVID-19, “The Washington County Clerk of Court’s office along with some judges took steps to space out and mark where potential jurors and jurors are supposed to be sitting, that way the six feet social distancing is observed.”

Gish says this spacing out of jurors may make it difficult for members of the public to attend trial proceedings. If you have been summoned for jury duty and are wary of contracting COVID-19, Gish advises to contact the Clerk of Court’s office to postpone duties.