Jury trials have not happened in New Orleans at criminal court since the pandemic started over a year and a half ago.
Now with crime on the rise and police making arrests, the Orleans Parish Criminal Court, typically considered to be the state’s busiest courthouse, should be rolling through trials.
Except jurors are not showing up.
Jury trials were allowed to resume last summer.
In recent weeks, people were sent jury notices to come serve but they are not showing up. Court officials say many are blaming slow mail delivery, the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida for not coming.
On Wednesday the retrial of Cardell Hayes, the man previously convicted of shooting and killing Saints star Will Smith, was delayed six months, partially due to jury concerns. Hayes was granted a new trial because his guilty verdict was not unanimous, which is now required in Louisiana.
