Lake County courthouse brings in first jurors since pandemic began

Lake County residents arrived at the Waukegan courthouse Wednesday morning to participate in jury selection for the first time since March.

That occasion, simply a matter of course before the pandemic, was made possible by months of work by court and county staff members who came together to establish a COVID-19 safety plan, officials said.

Court spokeswoman Kasey Morgan said the jury selection went well, based on the feedback she received from the people who weren't picked.

"People are very candid with us and there wasn't any negative feedback," Morgan said. "Everyone appreciated the means we'd put in place to make them feel safe."

Those who are summoned for jury selection are allowed into the court tower, which is mostly empty since all other court business is conducted via Zoom. Prospective jurors are given water bottles, hand sanitizer and masks, if they need them.

After a health screening, they are taken to a large room and assigned to one of the many chairs inside that are arranged at a safe distance.

Safe seating is enforced throughout the process. Once selected and assigned to a courtroom, jurors will sit spread out instead of being packed into the jury box.

Each juror is to remain in their seat throughout the proceedings, and their chair will be deep-cleaned every night, under the plan.

The entire process is explained in a video published on the courthouse's YouTube page on Friday.

"We realize the sacrifices we are asking of you and appreciate your very real concerns," Judge Victoria Rossetti said in the video. "Let me first assure you that we would not be bringing you here at all during this time if it were not absolutely necessary and we could not ensure your health and safety."

Rossetti said jury trials are the cornerstone of the American justice system that protects the most important rights citizens have.

"You are an essential part of our system of justice, and without your participation, none of it would be possible," she said.

Morgan said the people who arrived Wednesday morning were being selected for a grand jury. Next week, she said, the court will host the first round of prospective jurors for a regular jury trial.

"If this is what works and people are comfortable with it, we need to keep down this road and improve upon these parameters," Morgan said.

Courts in Kane and DuPage have resumed jury trials.