Cook County Jury Trials To Resume

• Published date: 08 May 2021
• Subject Matter: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Trials & Appeals & Compensation, Operational Impacts and Strategy
• Law Firm: Jenner & Block
• Author: Andrew W. Vail, Kevin Murphy and Elpitha Lambros

After nearly thirteen months, civil jury trials in Cook County are set to resume. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, civil jury trials have all but stopped in Cook County courts. However, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Law Division Presiding Judge James P. Flannery, Jr. have each issued administrative orders allowing civil jury trials to resume.

On March 23, 2021, Chief Judge Evans issued an amended administrative order, G.A.O. 2020-07, which set May 3, 2021 as the target date for resuming jury trials. Cook County Cir. Ct. G.A.O. 2020-07, ' 1.a.iv. (eff. Mar. 23, 2021). The order says that jury trials may be held in all departments and divisions and can be conducted either in person, by videoconference, or through some combination of the two. Id. at ' 1.a.iv.3. Those decisions will be made at the discretion of the presiding judge, resources and public health guidelines permitting. Id. at ' 1.a.iv.

On April 1, 2021, Presiding Judge Flannery, Jr. issued G.A.O. 21-1, which set out the process for rescheduling jury trials. Under the order, jury trials will be rescheduled starting with the cases originally set for trial on March 17, 2020. Cook County Law Division G.A.O. 21-1, 1 (eff. Apr. 1, 2021). The court will then set jury trials chronologically based on their original trial dates. Id. Court dates are left to the discretion of Presiding Judge James P. Flannery, Jr. Id. The parties will receive a...