Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald issued an order on Wednesday afternoon postponing all jury trials in the state until October 5, 2020.   He had previously postponed all such trials until September 1.  The Judiciary had put steps into place to ensure all precautions relative to COVID-19 were in place, such as mask-wearing and social distancing.

In the order, Recktenwald said that since his order on June 23,  there has been “a concerning spike in positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide.  Although the severity of the outbreak varies between the different circuits, given the increase in inter-island travel, the capacities of the health care systems on each island, the fluidity of the changes in public health conditions, and guidance from public health officials, an extension of the jury trial commencement date is necessary and prudent at this time.”

Non-jury trials may still proceed. Jury trials may resume on October 5, 2020, barring any further public health or other extraordinary developments that would make resuming trials imprudent, according to the order.  But the order stresses that COVID-19 precautions must be followed.

Recktenwald’s order came two days after an employee at the South Kohala District Courthouse tested positive for COVID-19 and all employees who’d been in that courthouse were asked to get COVID-19 tests.  The South Kohala Courthouse will reopen for business on Monday, August 10.