Bradford County joins resumption of criminal jury trials

Bradford County in North Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit began jury selection on August 31 for a felony jury trial scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Eighth Circuit Chief Judge James P. Nilon spoke to socially distanced jurors Monday morning at the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke. After many meetings and weeks of planning among stakeholders, the felony trial began with protections and procedures in place in accord with best-practices guidelines.

Chief Judge Nilon told prospective jurors they were an essential part of ensuring the constitutional right to a jury trial. He said their health and safety is a top priority and urged them to properly wear masks, use provided hand sanitizer and to maintain appropriate distance.

Circuit Judge Mark W. Moseley is presiding. A jury was chosen before 11 a.m. and opening statements for the prosecution and defense began at 11:30 a.m.

Bradford County is conducting the first socially distanced criminal jury trial in the Eighth Circuit. Other counties in the judicial circuit have begun the procedures to do so in the coming weeks. Conducting criminal jury trials requires the coordinated cooperation of the Clerks of Court, State Attorney’s Office, and Public Defender’s Office.

Improving public health conditions around the state have seen more jurisdictions to move into the next phase of operations where more in-person business is conducted while continuing to hold court events remotely where possible.

A criminal jury trial was held last week in Flagler County. Previously, a statewide pilot project to try various remote technologies saw civil jury trials conducted in Miami and Jacksonville. The Miami trial included remote jury selection, followed by an in-person but distanced and protected trial. The Jacksonville trial was conducted entirely remotely.