Carbon County court is preparing to conduct its first jury trials during the COVID-19 pandemic next week.

During a news conference Wednesday in Courtroom 1 in Jim Thorpe, President Judge Roger N. Nanovic outlined the plans for the first trials and elaborated on the measures being taken to protect each juror, calling it an “extraordinary time.”

Nanovic said a letter was sent out to the prospective jurors for the August term of criminal court explaining the safeguards and steps the court and county has taken to ensure their safety.

He said he and follow judges, Steven R. Serfass and Joseph J. Matika, would not have considered trials, “if we thought we were endangering people. We would not bring them in.”

In preparation for the trials, in which three have been scheduled, some changes in the historic courtroom have been made. Several rows of benches have been removed and replaced with chairs to help adhere to the COVID-19 restrictions outlined by Gov. Tom Wolf. He said with the new setup, the social distancing requirement of at least 6 feet will be met. He added, because of the changes, the witness stand, which was to the left of the presiding judge, will be moved to the opposite side, where the jurors will be sitting during the trial.

In the letter to the jurors, Nanovic said that the plans set up for the trials were formulated in conjunction with state and local medical experts and the state department of health.

He said the three cases selected were ones that would not take longer than a day, or possible two, to complete.

He said the courtroom will be sanitized prior to the arrival of jurors and will be sanitized again for any subsequent jury panel.

He said plans call for 50 jurors to report for each of the three scheduled trials. One panel will report Monday, Aug. 3, in the morning, the second in the afternoon. The third panel will report on Monday, Aug. 10, in the morning. The trial dates for the first two trials are set for Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 4 and 5, for the first one; and Thursday and Friday, Aug. 6 and 7, for the second trial. Each one of the judges will preside over a trial.

County Commissioner Rocky Ahner demonstrated the sanitizing procedures used. He said the county purchased 15 of the latest sanitizing spray systems. Each department in the county will receive one. He said the county has been “proactive” in its approach to combating the pandemic and said county officials are constantly reviewing the latest procedures and products available to keep everyone safe.

He said local taxpayer money is not being used to make the purchases of the materials used. He said all the funds used come from state and federal grants. He added each jury will be given a special mask to wear.

Nanovic added that masks will be worn throughout the entire jury process, from the selection of the panel and the trial. He said only witnesses will be permitted to remove their masks while testifying. He noted the county has installed Plexiglas barriers in the courtroom, around the witness box and judge’s bench. He said jury deliberations will be done in the courtroom to allow social distancing. Everyone else will be asked to leave the courtroom.

Both Nanovic and Ahner stressed that every precaution that could have been made to protect the jurors, has been made.

Nanovic said, “Our main concern is the safety of everyone involved.”

Nanovic said the front door of the courthouse will be open at 8:15 a.m. so that jurors can proceed to the courtroom, which is located on the second floor. Staff members will be present to answer any questions and escort, if needed.

He said some prospective jurors have indicated their unwillingness to serve because of the pandemic, and they were excused. He said, however, he did not have an exact total yet, but felt the number requesting to be excused for that reason was relatively limited.