Luzerne County Councilwoman impressed with safety protocols during jury duty

A stickler for following coronavirus pandemic protocols, Luzerne County Councilwoman Kendra Radle didn’t know what to expect when she was called for jury duty last week.

The new county court procedures she encountered put her at ease that cases can be safely adjudicated.

“I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. I felt safe the whole time,” said Radle, who took office in January.

She reported to the courthouse at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 14.

Prospective jurors were spaced out in line and given masks with a clear plastic front, allowing attorneys to view their facial expressions when responding to questions.

Ample hand sanitizer stations were set up, and workers wore gloves.

Only 25 prospective jurors were permitted in the jury room at one time.

County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Michael T. Vough addressed the group to explain the procedures and stress the need to maintain social distancing, Radle said.

Radle was selected for a two-day trial before Judge Joseph Sklarosky Jr. involving animal cruelty charges against Chris Dennis Deleur, of Wapwallopen.

The jury deliberated for less than one hour before returning a guilty verdict.

During the trial, jurors were spread throughout the courtroom because the jury box was not big enough to allow social distancing, Radle said.

Screens and microphones were set up in the courtroom to ensure all jurors could see and hear the witnesses. Witnesses were permitted to remove their masks while testifying but had to don masks again before they were allowed to stand up to leave the witness area, she said.

The judge and court reporter were behind plexiglass, and attorneys had to remain distanced as they presented their arguments and asked questions, she said.

Photographs presented as evidence were placed on tables for inspection, preventing the spread of germs through touch, she said.

The jury remained in the locked courtroom to deliberate instead of moving to a smaller conference room, Radle said.

Radle said she did not hear any negative feedback from fellow jurors about the experience.

This was her first time as a juror because she was summoned but quickly dismissed as a college student.

The 26-year-old said she has been careful around others and vigilant about wearing a mask and sanitizing throughout the pandemic.

Aside from witnessing the county protocols in effect, she appreciated the firsthand glimpse of the criminal justice system.

“I wasn’t in the courthouse as a council member, and it was different being on the other side of things,” Radle said. “I am happy I got picked because I got to see the whole experience.”

Vough said three criminal court jury panels have been selected and assigned to trials since Sept. 14.

Jurors are immediately dismissed and sent home if they are not needed so they are not forced to linger in the building or return another day, he said.

Court officials held numerous meetings to develop the new procedures, he said.

Clear masks were chosen for jurors because full-face shields are not enclosed at the bottom as required under safety protocols, he said.

“Facial expressions are important when lawyers are picking jurors,” Vough said.

With trials resumed, judges are resolving cases and “chipping away” at a backlog caused by pandemic closures, the president judge said.

“We’re very happy citizens are coming to court and doing their civic duty. So far it’s working very well,” Vough said, noting he has not received any juror complaints.