ANCHORAGE DAILY PLANET
It is more than a little unsettling to read criminal and civil trials, along with grand juries, are suspended again in Alaska until next year.
While case counts continue to rise, criminal jury trials are on hold until at least March 15, and in-person civil trials are suspended until Sept. 7, but the suspension does not apply to trials in which video conference proceedings have been approved, an order issued by Alaska Chief Justice Joel Bolger says. In-person grand juries are suspended until Feb. 1..
The courts have been closed since March 23.
We are left to wonder at the delay’s effect on those jailed and charged with crimes or those who feel they need to redress their grievances or differences before a judge or jury. And what about victims awaiting justice? What must they be going through?
This era of uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 virus is bringing with it unforeseen problems.
Still, despite the circumstances, justice delayed …
