With the assistance of the Jumpstart Jury Trials Task Force, Iowa courts resumed jury trials on February 1, 2021.
The Iowa Supreme Court created the Jumpstart Jury Trials Task Force on May 6, 2020, “to develop temporary policies and procedures for jury trials resuming following the COVID-19 postponements.” The 17-member task force reviewed jury trial schedules established by the Iowa Supreme Court’s supervisory orders, consulted with public health officials and medical professionals, and made recommendations to the Iowa Supreme Court regarding the feasibility of each jury trial schedule. The task force also made recommendations to the Iowa Supreme Court “to help facilitate the decision making on how to proceed with jury trials when they resume.” Through consultation with public health officials, medical professionals, county officials, and law enforcement, the task force developed policies and procedures “to protect the health and safety of jurors, court staff, parties, attorneys, judges, and visitors throughout the trial process[.]”
Guy Cook, partner and senior member in Grefe & Sidney’s litigation division, is the co-chairman of the Jumpstart Jury Trials Task Force. For more than 35 years Guy has been one of the leading trial attorneys in the state of Iowa. He has served as counsel in more than 1000 litigated matters and has tried more than 200 jury trials. Guy recently discussed the resumption of jury trials and the work of the Jumpstart Jury Trials Task Force with local media outlets. You can view some of the news stories at the following links:
Des Moines Register:
Radio Iowa:
https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/28/jury-trials-to-resume-across-the-state-monday/
KIWA Radio:
https://kiwaradio.com/local-news/jury-trials-set-to-get-back-underway-on-monday/
WOI-TV: