A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Supreme Court extends restrictions on jury trials, grand juries and other business until April 1


The Supreme Court entered two new Administrative Orders that further extend restrictions on jury trials, grand juries, show cause dockets, judicial sales and in-person meetings of Kentucky Court of Justice committees, commissions, task forces and boards. This action was necessary to address the continued surge of COVID-19 cases across the Commonwealth.

The orders:

• Postpone all jury trials until April 1, 2021.  
• Require grand juries to either be conducted remotely or suspended.
• Postpone all show cause dockets until April 1, 2021.
• Require judicial sales to be conducted either remotely or outside and in accordance with CDC guidelines.
• Postpone all in-person meetings of KCOJ committees, commissions, task forces, boards and other administrative bodies until April 1, 2021.

The Supreme Court is the state court of last resort and the final interpreter of Kentucky law. Seven justices sit on the Supreme Court and all seven rule on appeals that come before the court. The justices are elected from seven appellate districts and serve eight-year terms. A chief justice, chosen for a four-year term by fellow justices, is the administrative head of the state’s court system and is responsible for its operation. The Supreme Court may order a ruling or opinion to be published, which means that the ruling becomes the case law governing all similar cases in the future in Kentucky.

The Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort is the operations arm of the state court system. The AOC supports the activities of nearly 3,400 court system employees and 406 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. As the fiscal agent for the state court system, the AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget.


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