Jury trials resume after suspension since November

Jury trials in New Mexico were officially allowed to resume Monday in New Mexico’s Fifth Judicial District and throughout the state.

Trials in criminal and civil cases involving juries were put on hold by the New Mexico Supreme Court in November due to a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. However, other administrative court functions were allowed to proceed.

“The Fifth Judicial District is pleased that the Supreme Court has confirmed the resumption of jury trials effective Feb. 1, 2021,” Judge James Hudson, chief justice of New Mexico’s Fifth Judicial District Court, said in a statement Wednesday.

Hudson said the jury trials will take place in accordance with protocols adopted by the New Mexico Supreme Court as well as the individual plan adopted by the Fifth Judicial District, such as requirements that all people entering the courthouse wear face coverings and jurors be seated 6 feet apart.

Vaccines will also be made available to judges and court employees in accordance with Department of Health guidelines, Hudson said.

Courts were forced to suspend jury trials at the start of the pandemic last spring but were allowed to start again in July after each court district adopted protocols to contain virus spread.

Breaking news reporter Alex Ross can be reached at 575-622-7710, ext, 301, or breakingnews@rdrnews.com.