The novel Coronavirus has upended all aspects of our lives. One of the areas hardest hit has been the criminal justice system. All people who are accused of crimes are entitled to a trial by a jury of their peers. This right is enshrined in both the federal and Colorado constitutions. Here in Colorado you have the right to have a trial within six months of the date that you enter a plea of not guilty. That right however is currently paused while we are living in this pandemic. It is important to balance the rights of the jury trial against the safety of the community at large. While this pandemic is happening few if any jury trials should be happening in order to ensure that our community is as safe as possible.
