Bexar County suspends jury duty for a month amid coronavirus spread

Bexar County will cease calling people in for jury duty for the next several weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Bexar County will cease calling people in for jury duty for the next several weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Photo: Tom Reel /Staff File Photo Photo: Tom Reel /Staff File Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Bexar County suspends jury duty for a month amid coronavirus spread 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Bexar County will cease calling people in for jury duty for the next several weeks as concern about the spread of coronavirus continues to rattle people in San Antonio, across Texas and around the globe.

“Effective March 16, 2020, through Thursday, April 16, 2020, jury trials are suspended. Any jury summons received for those dates should be disregarded,” read a memo written by Judge Ron Rangel, administrative judge over the state district courts and presiding judge of the 379th state District Court.

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“Summoned individuals will not be penalized for not appearing to jury duty during these dates,” the memo stated. “In the interim, we will continue to monitor the spread of the virus and notify the public of any updates.”

Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez, presiding judge of County Court-at-Law No. 13, announced on Facebook late Thursday that all jury trials in her courtroom were suspended until further notice, and that no jail inmates would be taken to her court.

She has been urging jurors in her court for weeks to wash their hands during all breaks as the virus spread across the globe and evacuees began coming to the Alamo City.

She also used the social media platform to tell attorneys they could reset their cases by phone if they have the flu or symptoms that resemble it, and also urged defendants to have their attorneys reset their cases if they were ill and could not make it in to court.

She also noted she would not marry couples who presented with some type of flu-like illness.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.

ezavala@express-news.net