Jury trials look different amid pandemic
MEADOWBROOK PARK ABOUT 6:30
LAST NIGHT.
HE DIED AT THE SCENE.
>>> FOR NINE MONTHS TRIALS HAVE
BEEN PUT ON HOLD.
THEY HAD TO SAY HOW THEY CAN
SAFELY RESUME TRIALS DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
THEY ARE HAVING THEIR FIRST
CRIMINAL TRIAL.
AMANDA LAMB SHOWS HOW IT WILL
WORK.
>> Reporter: IF YOU ARE CALLED
FOR JURY DUTY IN WAKE COUNTY,
THINGS ARE GOING TO LOOK A LOT
DIDN'T IN THE COURT RAM.
FOR EXAMPLE, JURORS ARE GOING
TO SIT SIX FEET APART.
>> JURY DUTY IN A PANDEMIC.
>> HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU
GOT CALLED FOR JURY SELECTION?
>> I WOULDN'T LOVE IT.
I WOULD PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE
EXCITED TO DO IT, NO.
>> THE GOAL, TO MAKE PEOPLE
COMFORTABLE.
>> WHEN THEY COME INTO THE
COURTHOUSE, THEY ARE GIVEN A
PACKET WITH CLEANING SUPPLIES.
>> Reporter: JURORS WILL GET A
CLEAR MASK SO ATTORNEYS CAN SEE
THEIR EXPRESSIONS AND
UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER.
DURING SELECTION, JURORS WILL
BE SPACED OUT BETWEEN MULTIPLE
COURTROOMS.
>> AT 7:02 THERE ARE 20 JURORS
AND 25 IN HERE.
WE'RE TALKING TO THESE 25 BUT
THOSE FOLKS CAN HEAR US AND SEE
US.
>> Reporter: ATTORNEY TABLES
ARE TURNED AROUND TO FACE THE
JURY NOW IN THE AUDIENCE.
WITNESSES TESTIFY NOW FROM THE
FORMER JURY BOX.
E WOO HAVE 55 MURDER TRAILS
WAITING FOR US.
THAT IS A LOT.
>> LAURYN FREEMAN SAYS THE NINE-
MONTH PAUSE HAS CREATED A
BACKLOG.
>> THIS IS A BALANCING ACT TO
DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY.
WARE ALSO KEEPING PEOPLE
HEALTHY.
>> WE HAVE VICTIMS WAITING FOR
CHO SURE.
WE HAVE FOLKS IN YALE WAITING
FOR THEIR TRIALS.
>> IT TOOK ABOUT FOUR MONTHS TO
COME UP WITH THIS PLAN, BUT
JUDGES HERE BELIEVE IT IS THE
BEST PLAN TO KEEP JURORS SAFE,
BUT ALSO KEEP THE WHEELS OF
JUSTICE TURNING.
AMANDA LAMB, WRAL NEWS,
RALEIGH.
A
>> THIS WEEK'S TRIAL INVOLVES A
FELON CAUGHT WITH A FAIR ARM.
44 JURORS SHOWED UP.
THEY EXPECT THE TRIAL TO LAST