Jury duty is coming back, but there are safety concerns

Signage directs potential jurors at jury selection for the retrial of Dennis Oland in the bludgeoning death of his millionaire father, Richard Oland, at Harbour Station arena in Saint John, N.B., on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. The decision by a judge to declare a mistrial in the high-profile Dennis Oland murder case in New Brunswick has raised difficult questions about the level of police involvement in vetting people selected for jury duty. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Jury trials are set to resume in the province next week, but due to covid-19 – the jury selection process will look a little different.

Trials have been shut down since march and starting next week they’re set to resume but to ensure physical distancing and other COVID-19 health and safety measures the jury selection process is changing.

The selection will now be moving off-site at some court locations.

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The CBC reports that in the city jury selection that would normally take place at the university avenue courthouse, will now be moved to the metro toronto convention centre.

While moving jury selection to the convention centre will ensure physical distancing it does bring with it its own risks, including security.

The founder of the Canadian Juries Commission tells the CBC he’s extremely concerned about the move to larger venues, but the ministry of the attorney general says they’ve worked closely with Toronto Police to develop safety plans.

The CBC is also reporting that prospective jurors will be screened for COVID-19 three times before entering a court.

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