Columbia County courtroom will look different to prospective jurors

DAYTON-Jurors are seeing some changes in the county courtroom layout, practices, and procedures, now that trials are resuming in Superior Court, and in Municipal Court, after a long recess due to the COVID-19 shut-down.

Jury Coordinator Jessica Atwood said Superior Court Judge Gary J. Libey has visited the courtroom and taken measurements to make certain social distancing requirements will be met. The state's Chief Justice Debra Stevens has appointed Libey to Presiding Judge for the Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin county Superior Court circuit. He will fill the remainder of Judge Scott Gallina's term, which will expire at the end of 2020.

Atwood said 27-percent of the population in Columbia County is over the age of 65 and Judge Libey is particularly concerned about that population. She outlined actions being taken to protect people from COVID-19:

• The pool of potential jurors will be divided into two smaller groups during the jury selection process. Only fifteen jurors can be seated inside the courtroom.

• Jurors will sign in, daily, on their own sheet of paper, keeping the pen they use.

• Hand sanitizer, handwashing stations, gloves, masks, and face shields are available to them. Visitors will have their temperatures taken daily, and the doors of the courtroom will remain open for better air circulation.

• The courtroom is also being cleaned daily.

• Jurors will remain inside the courtroom for breaks and lunch. Snacks will not be provided to them, but bottled water will be.

• During deliberations, the judge, counsel, defendant, and the clerk will be moved from the courtroom and jurors will remain sequestered inside the courtroom.

Atwood said she has been attending virtual meetings with other court personnel, working on issues related to trials and COVID-19. It was from that group that the idea to remove fabric cushions from chairs inside the courtroom was floated.

"There is a lot of communication about the best practices," Atwood said. "I feel we have a really good handle on trials, and how this is going to go."

The following are conditions or circumstances under which the court is planning to excuse jurors or postpone their date of service if so requested:

• People over the age of 60, those reporting underlying health problems or who are autoimmune compromised

• People reporting symptoms of illness, or those providing care for someone in isolation or quarantine.

• People who are in isolation or quarantine themselves and anyone who indicates a reasonable fear or discomfort of contacting COVID-19.

• Essential workers can also be excused or rescheduled for jury duty.

"The last thing I want is anybody to panic or be stressed out because of a jury summons," she said. Atwood said to reach out to her with any concerns at the Columbia County Clerk's office at (509) 382-4321.