Massachusetts Trial Courts Pause Jury Trials During Surge of Omicron Variant

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has ordered trial courts to pause civil jury trials for the month of January, 2022 due to the surge of COVID cases caused by the Omnicron variant. Trial courts were planning to impanel juries of six for civil cases in January, 2022. Because it is hoped that the surge will be brief, trial courts will be adhering to their current schedules (e.g. motions heard on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons) for the month of January. Staffing at courthouses throughout Massachusetts has been temporarily cut back to 50% with courtroom clerks for civil sessions working from home on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Jury waived trials are still being held.