The Alaska Court System reports that jury trials in Kenai and Homer were suspended as of July 21st to, at least, August 6th due to the rising COVID-19 cases across the Kenai Peninsula. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services report that the current statewide alert level is high at 22.8 cases per 100,000 and the Kenai Peninsula Borough is even higher at 35.40 cases per 100,000. The DHSS identifies the Kenai Peninsula Borough as one of eight regions in the state in high alert status with widespread community transmission.
The presiding judge order #891 was signed by Third Judicial District Presiding Judge William F. Morse, who also signed order #893, which suspends jury trials in Anchorage as of today (July 28th) to at least August 13th. That suspension will be reviewed on August 11th.
The suspension of jury trials in Kenai and Homer follows an order on June 15th that temporarily reduced the numbers of members of Kenai and Palmer Grand Jury Panels. The suspension of jury trials in Kenai and Homer will be reviewed on Wednesday, August 4th.
