Bibb, Peach, Crawford declare judicial emergency: Trials canceled amid coronavirus worries
Bibb, Peach and Crawford county courts canceled upcoming trials and jury selections for the next month amid growing concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.
The measure, which will be in place for 30 days, postpones jury trials and grand jury convenings and was aimed at keeping large numbers of people from gathering in close quarters. The cancellation was announced Friday.
During regularly-scheduled trial weeks, which were about to begin weekly and run through mid-April, the courthouses are often filled with hundreds of prospective jurors called for jury duty.
Officials sought to avoid having such crowds on hand.
The courthouses will remain open for business.
The postponements apply only to Bibb, Peach and Crawford courts. The U.S. District Court in Macon, where federal proceedings take place, has not postponed any trials as yet.
Those entering the federal courthouse, however, are set to be screened before being allowed inside beginning Monday.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 12:50 PM.