Michigan's largest county is postponing jury trials until January.
Tim Kenny, chief judge at Wayne County Circuit Court, says coronavirus cases are on an "upward spiral," making it unsafe to hold trials. Trials had resumed in late September.
In the Grand Rapids area, Kent County also has halted jury trials until January.
“It is important that we do not expose any people when our numbers are as high as they are right now,’’ Judge Mark Trusock said last week.
Kent County prosecutor Chris Becker said cases are piling up. There hasn't been a jury trial there since March.
“The backlog is tremendous,” Becker said. “They're coming into the system, but they’re not necessarily going out.”
