Criminal jury trials in the Supreme and County Courts will resume in Melbourne next month, although there is no word yet on when these courts will again sit in Bendigo and other regional areas.
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A limited number of jury trials will start up again in Melbourne from July 20, four months after they were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The courts are assessing regional courts to determine when jury trials can resume there.
There are also no dates set for the resumption of regional hearings that do not involve juries, such as sentencings and plea hearings.
The County Court's regional circuit sittings had also been suspended to minimise the risk of coronavirus.
To maintain social distancing and protect the health of jurors, jury pools will be formed virtually and only small groups of jurors will be brought into court or the jury pool room for empanelment.
In the County Court, the jury will be empanelled remotely.
Social distancing will continue to apply in the court room and larger spaces will be provided for jury rooms.
Jury summonses will initially be sent only to people living in metropolitan Melbourne.
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