Windsor Theatre to host jury selection for District 2 judicial court

The stage at the Windsor Theater has been home to live performances and events of all shapes and sizes in its 100-plus year history but this week, it proves old dogs can learn new tricks.

On Thursday, for the first time ever, the Windsor Theatre will serve as the location for jury selection for the District 2 Judicial Court.

The judicial branch on September 14 was given permission to resume trials, which had been halted since March due to COVID-19 concerns. While jury trials are once again underway, the judicial branch must continue to adhere to safety regulations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations presented by the Jumpstart Jury Trials Task Force and other law and health task forces.

One of the recommendations is that, should a jury be needed for a trial, jury selection take place at a location that can accommodate the amount of people necessary for the process.

“We have to be able to seek a jury, socially distanced, and our courtroom (at the Franklin County Courthouse) is too small to hold the number of people that we might need to bring in,” said Julie Kneip, District 2 Clerk of Courts. “Some of our jury trials we need to bring in 35 people and some we need to bring in 80 people and our courtroom is not big enough to allow us to socially distance.”

Kneip said the Windsor was one of three places considered for the location, along with the Franklin County Law Enforcement Center meeting room and the Franklin County Fairgrounds. The Windsor, she said, offered adequate seating, a space for interviews on the stage and a sound system.

The space needed to accommodate the amount of potential jurors brought in, as well as the attorneys, judge and court reporter.

Beth Eilderts, Judicial Specialist, said the site needed to be approved by both Franklin County and the judges in order to make sure all needs were met for logistical and safety purposes.

The first use of the Windsor for jury selection will be Thursday morning. Potential jurors will be brought in in waves of 15, seated in a socially distanced manner in the theater’s seats.

Kneip said the wave method is a new feature that was established to socially distance jurors and safely check-in each individual.

Eilderts added that it also keeps people in one seat to further prevent the spread of germs throughout the theater. Individuals will stay in their “assigned” seat until they are dismissed or a jury is drawn.

“We need to be able to spread people out and keep them in the same spots so we don’t cross-contaminate chairs,” she said.

Socially distanced seating is just one of several safety precautions that will be put in place for all involved in the process. Beth Eilderts, Judicial Specialist, said jurors, judges, attorneys and everyone else will be required to wear masks and temperatures may be taken at the door. The judicial branch has provided personal protective equipment (PPE) that will be provided.

Once a jury is selected, the trial will resume at the courthouse.

Kneip said it is unclear how often the Windsor will need to be used for jury selection, but said jury trials are often used one to three times a year but that number can easily vary.

However, she said she is appreciative of Windsor Manager Jim Davies’ and the staff’s willingness to accommodate the process and believes the space will satisfy the needs of the court.

Eilderts added that a bonus of the location is the chance to utilize the Windsor, which has had its entertainment and live performance opportunities virtually eliminated since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“It’s great that we can do this,” she said. “It’s so hard hit by having to basically shut down and they’re trying to do different things, so it’s great they’re doing this for us. It’s a huge favor.”