Westmoreland County postpones jury trials, asks residents to conduct business online if possible

Westmoreland County’s criminal court judges postponed all jury trials in March in response to the ongoing concern about the coronavirus.

Common Pleas Judge Tim Krieger on Thursday conducted hearings for inmates at the county jail via video conferencing rather than have them brought to the courthouse.

“I’m doing this as a precaution, out of a general concern not a because of any specific situation,” Krieger said. “You see what is happening with the cruise lines, and the jail could be like a cruise ship.”

The county’s three other criminal judges will follow suit next week as part of a series of changes in court operations to be implemented Monday, according to Court Administrator Amy DeMatt.

All status conferences and plea hearings for inmates will be conducted by video conferencing. Hearings for defendants not in custody will be conducted in person.

Jury trials scheduled to begin Monday were postponed, and cases scheduled to begin in April will be addressed by individual judges and conducted on a staggered basis throughout the month, DeMatt said.

“This is an evolving situation,” she said.

DeMatt said the reworked court schedule was designed to eliminate large gatherings at the courthouse. Jurors summoned to the courthouse next month and beyond will report directly to individual courtrooms rather than to the building’s juror service center.

No major changes are planned for the civil and family court divisions. Civil trials are conducted every other month, and the next term isn’t scheduled to begin until May.

Meanwhile, county government officials on Thursday suggested public business that can be conducted over the internet or through the mail be done so rather than in person at the courthouse.

“We want to protect the courthouse employees and the public,” said Commissioner Sean Kertes. “We are trying to address public safety, and we don’t want someone who is sick to come in. We are not shutting down anything, but if you can apply for a dog license online or pay your taxes or fines by mail, you should do so.

“It is the people’s courthouse, and they have the right to be here — but if you can avoid it, you should.”

Commissioners also announced the county’s sick leave policy has been amended to ensure than any government employee unable to work because of coronavirus will be paid.

Kertes said workers who exhaust their sick leave because they are required by doctors to quarantine because of the virus will receive advance paid time off in lieu of the accrual of future sick days.