200 jury summons recalled as court trials delayed in El Paso due to virus spike

EL PASO, Texas -- The first jury trials set to take place during the era of the coronavirus in El Paso have now officially been postponed.

Presiding Judge Selena Solis of the 243rd Judicial District Court said 200 jury summons issued for cases set for Friday have been recalled.

She said she decided on the postponement in resuming jury trials after consulting with City-County Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza about the spike recently in local coronavirus cases and hospitalization rates.

The judge said the court has to weigh both the pursuit of justice as well as protecting the public from the potential of Covid-19 exposure.