Berkshire County may be seeing its first jury trials this week since the pandemic hit a year ago. They would be on a limited basis and would also not yet involve criminal defendants.
PITTSFIELD â The first trials since the pandemic hit could be held this coming week in Berkshire County â though on a limited basis, and not yet involving criminal defendants.
The Massachusetts Trial Court has summoned jurors for tentative sessions Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the main courtroom of the Berkshire Superior Court. Meantime, a search continues for alternative court locations that allow fuller operations during the pandemic.
For now, judicial proceedings will be limited, by order of the Supreme Judicial Court, to whatâs known as âjury of 6â trials. A handful of these trials were held elsewhere in Massachusetts in January, with the proceedings then suspended so the court system could conduct a review.