Chief Justice Bolger has issued Special Order 8194, allowing misdemeanor jury trials to resume Nov. 2. However, the suspension of in-person felony criminal and civil trials remains until Jan. 4, 2021, although a presiding judge may allow a felony or civil jury trial to proceed in exceptional circumstances.
Bolger will review whether to continue the in-person felony and civil trial suspension on approximately Nov. 20.
The suspension does not apply to proceedings in which videoconference trials have been approved, such as presumptive death trials.
Jury trials have been suspended in Alaska since mid-March; some proceedings take place via video conference.
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Suzanne Downing founded Must Read Alaska and served as its editor for many years. Her prolific writing spans nearly every topic meaningful to Alaskans. Before founding Must Read Alaska, she served as editor of the Juneau Empire and as a speechwriter for Governor Sean Parnell.
