PORT ANGELES – Covid-19 case rates have scuttled jury trials in Clallam County.

This week, Clallam County Superior Court Presiding Judge Brent Basden issued an order suspending all jury trial in Superior Court through the end of October.

That ruling followed one from District Court Judge Dave Neupert halting jury trials there as well.

All criminal trials will be reset.

Both decisions were based on the extremely high COVID-19 case rates in Clallam County and the risk to potential jurors and court staff in gathering large groups together.

The courts made similar suspensions late last year and earlier this year due to high Covid rates.