by Janelle Kendall
Hello from the Stearns County Attorney’s Office! Stearns County Courts have continued operating at a busy pace in the new hybrid work environment, converting most criminal, child protection and mental health hearings to Zoom while maintaining contested hearings, including jury trials, in person. The courtroom shown here was created in the lower level of the County Administration Center to be big enough to conduct a felony jury trial, and it’s getting regular use. We have completed more than 30 jury trials (including four homicide trials) under socially distanced protocols. In fact, we especially want to thank all who have continued to respond to jury duty when summoned. Other counties experienced challenges keeping the public participating in the jury process – we’ve had just the opposite experience, with some levels of defendant and victim participation actually increasing when the remote/virtual option was offered.
Other necessary efficiencies have developed too. The County Attorney’s Office and court system have successfully converted to paperless operation so we can exchange information electronically. With those tools, we have new paths to get information to defense attorneys better and faster. New ways of calendaring cases promote resolution of both backlogged and newly filed cases. And Zoom hearings have allowed less transport of defendants between county jails, less moving kids around for court and more access to mental health treatment while persons are in custody for any reason.
We appreciate Stearns County’s support of public safety, law enforcement, and modern, efficient court processes. We look forward to continuing to work with justice partners and the public for a better, faster, more efficient justice system!
The new Stearns County courtroom, which can now handle social distancing.
