Harris County Court is planning to resume jury selection soon, but the number of cases continues to grow. Damage from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 has slowed the pace of trials in the criminal system, but the pandemic has worsened the problem.

If you are facing criminal charges for one or more pending cases, you must speak with an experienced criminal lawyer. Hiring a criminal defense attorney will help you understand the exact penalties you may face.

Inmates of Harris County Court

According to Harris County prosecutor JoAnne Musick, the court was beginning to make progress earlier this year until the COVID-19 pandemic happened. Records show that there are 80,024 pending felonies and cases.

Musick also states that if things don’t resume right away, the DA’s office won’t certainly be forced to start offering plea deals everywhere. However, it’s still a possibility.

All jury trials at the Supreme Court of Texas had to stop because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the court recently extended that order until September 1. However, pending cases that received special permission from regional judges and the state Office of Court Administration can make an exception.

Harris County Jail inmates remain above 8,000, and the hiatus in trials plays a huge part of the reason. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) even had to create a “Zoom Team” to make a video explaining the new procedures and help keep the cases moving through the courts.

Harris County’s Plans

The county plans to use the NRG Arena for the cases to push through and sign a lease through December 16. Another plan is to use the arena’s second floor to resume the Arkema trial, which involves the Harvey-related explosion in Crosby.

A tour of the arena and a rundown of safety precautions will be given by KPRC 2. Before entering the building, potential jurors are required to wear masks and have their temperatures checked. After that, they will proceed through metal detectors. Gates and stickers will be used to control traffic and maintain social distancing.

County Officials say that jurors will also be required to undergo the same procedures to prove that they do not have the virus when reporting for jury duty. Lastly, everyone is required to sanitize their hands.

Jury assembly will be held in the main arena and potential jurors will have to be spaced three seats apart for safety reasons. The seats will be sanitized after every use. Meanwhile, other proceedings will be held in Exhibit Hall B and the Pavilion.

According to Judge Robert Schaffer, representing the trial court judges, aside from Arkema, only jury assembly and selection are allowed to hold trials at NRG Arena. The process for jury trials has not yet been worked out and all sides will be updated as procedures are finalized.

The selection process for new grand jurors will begin next week with general jury summons going out later in anticipation of trials resuming on September 1.

Lastly, the judges will be considering those who are prone to COVID-19. For example, the clerk’s office will be allowed to park for free at NRG. If needed, the arena is also the site where a pop-up hospital would be set up to assist COVID-19 patients. In case that happens, any judicial proceedings would be immediately canceled.

Why You Need a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney

A criminal conviction can have a lasting impact on your life, ruining relationships, careers, and stripping your freedom. However, you may hire a criminal defense lawyer. Reach out to an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and fight for your freedom.

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