When Will In-Person Jury Trials Resume in TX? Three Major Counties Weigh In

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Texas officially lifted its statewide ban on in-person courtroom proceedings and jury trials, following Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to reopen the state. But a closer look at the Supreme Court order’s language and interviews with judges in a few of the state’s busiest counties reveals it’s not that simple: People can’t just flock to the courthouse immediately. 

The Supreme Court’s 36th pandemic-related order, signed March 5 by Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, now puts decisions for how and when to resume in-person proceedings in the hands of each county’s local administrative judge. These judges are charged with satisfying two requirements before in-person proceedings may continue: 1) identify the health and safety protocols that every judge in the county needs to implement in the courtrooms and 2) confer with the other judges in the county to develop a trial schedule.