A newly released report shows the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Fond du Lac County Circuit Court system. Retiring Fond du Lac County Senior Circuit judge Peter Grimm says there were a record low 14 jury trials in 2020, due to Covid restrictions. Seven of the trials were felony cases, including three criminal OWI cases. There were 28 jury days, and the longest jury trial was 3 days. Judge Grimm says 2021 was a catch up year with 34 jury trials including 18 felony cases. “In the face of Covid our jurors are commended for their fulfillment of an important Constitutional right, trial by jury,” Judge Grimm said. “Jurors make sacrifices being away from their job or family. They work hard listening to evidence, attorney’s arguments, and the judge’s legal instructions. Then they must make difficult decisions with fellow jurors. For these reasons, we owe all jurors a debt of gratitude.”
