Non-jury proceedings like arraignments, routine docket calls and certain hearings continued to take place over the past year while jury trials were on hold. Still, the inability to hold a trial created a backlog of pending cases. In Baxter County, there are almost a dozen pending murder or manslaughter trials that will begin being heard at the fairgrounds Monday. Ethredge says one benefit to hearing those cases at the fairgrounds is that it will not tie up courtroom space at the Baxter County Court Annex for other proceedings. Listen: