A number of safety precautions have been put into place for the Milwaukee County Circuit Courts. These precautions include:
- Mandating the wearing of masks with limited exceptions in all county buildings and providing masks for individuals who do not have one.
- Asking individuals to answer the CDC health screenings questions prior to entering the building.
- Installing plexiglass throughout the courtroom where 6 feet of physical distance cannot be obtained.
- Installing hand sanitizer stations in high traffic areas.
- Redesigning the courtroom and jury meeting room to accommodate 6 feet of physical distance between individuals.
- Increasing cleaning protocol.
- Limiting elevator use to two people at a time.
Exceptions will be made for individuals who are considered at greater risk under CDC guidelines, who are immunocompromised, have been recently exposed to COVID-19, are feeling symptomatic, unable to travel or wear a mask, or have conflicts such as childcare, elder care, prior commitments that can’t be rescheduled, etc. If you have questions or concerns about COVID 19 and your jury service, call (414) 278-4469.
If a juror begins to feel symptomatic, we recommend the individual get tested immediately. Information regarding free testing sites is available at Impact 2-1-1. In addition, CALL (414) 278-4469 and let jury management know as soon as possible.
We will work with our health consultants to assess the individual’s exposure to others and determine next steps on a case-by-case basis. If the juror tests positive or is no longer able to participate, there are two alternate jurors available to be called upon for the duration of the trial.
Jurors receive a $25 reimbursement for a full day of jury duty.
Milwaukee County and our health consultants are continuously monitoring the data related to COVID-19 and will remain compliant with CDC guidelines and local recommendations.
Due to COVID-19, many individuals are beyond the designated time frame of 90-days for a speedy trial. It’s imperative that we reopen the courtrooms in a safe and intentional manner so we can protect an individual’s constitutional right to a speedy trial.
Approximately, 40-50 percent of Milwaukee County hearing will still be performed via video conferencing for the next several months. This helps us keep the footprint and traffic in the courthouses to a minimum and allows us to adhere to physical distancing protocol.