News

The Akron Municipal Court continues to update procedures based on the impact of COVID-19. The information below details a change of location for upcoming jury trials to comply with social distancing standards. All protocols are subject to joint modification by the Court and the Summit County Public Health Department should circumstances arise. A copy of the temporary emergency order and jury trial protocol is available here. 

Jury trials have been on-hold since March due to the pandemic but the following location has been designated as a temporary court location: Oriana House Training Center on Carroll St. in Akron. Only jury trials will be held at this facility at the present time.

Notifications to jurors will now contain a letter with information regarding this new location and instructions on how to express a COVID-19 reason for being excused from jury service. The letter will inform the prospective jurors that the Court has a strong interest in minimizing the risk of anyone contracting COVID-19. Anyone who asks to be excused because they are in a high risk category for contracting COVID-19 with documentation from a physician, has tested positive within the last 14 days or have test results pending with documentation from a physician, have been notified by any health department that they or a household member have been in contact with an individual who has tested positive for the virus or are currently in self-quarantine should notify the Court through a questionnaire included in the mailing.  

Jury selection will take place at the remote site. All prospective jurors will be asked through the Court’s letter to self-monitor whether they are experiencing any of the following symptoms within the last 2-3 days or have been exposed to someone experiencing these symptoms:

• Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• Persistent, dry cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills, muscle pain or sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

Jurors will be instructed not to come to trial if they are experiencing these symptoms or feel sick and told to call to be excused from jury service. The letter from the Court will also inform jurors of the new jury trial protocols implemented by the Court, as approved by the Summit County Public Health Department, for jury trial service.

Those who enter the courthouse or the off-site jury trial location are required to wear a face mask and have their temperature checked. Entry will be denied if an individual’s temperature reads 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

For further questions, please contact the Akron Municipal Court Administration Office at (330) 375-2120.