No jury trials in McLean County this month due to COVID-19

Posted on December 3, 2020
No decision has been made for for January jury trials in the 11th Circuit. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois/WJBC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – Jury trials have been called off in McLean County Court this month, according to court officials, to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Jury trials were postponed in criminal and civil cases, but bench trials will go on as scheduled because a judge instead of a jury decides those cases.

The decision to call off jury trials comes as the chief judge in the 10th Judicial Circuit, which includes Peoria and Tazewell Counties, ordered that jury trials won’t be held until January 8 and perhaps longer. The 10th Circuit also includes Marshall, Putnam, and Stark Counties.

McLean County is part of the 11th Circuit, which includes Woodford, Logan, Livingston, and Ford counties. Only McLean County had jury trials scheduled this month.

No decision has been made for for January jury trials in the 11th Circuit. That decision will be made the first week of January, court officials said.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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