Suspended trials create backlog in Vanderburgh County courts

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Jury trials being suspended since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic means a backlog of cases, including in southwestern Indiana.

Currently around 180 defendants sit in jail awaiting trial in Vanderburgh Circuit Court, an 80-person increase prior to the pandemic, according to the Courier & Press.

Judge David Kiely estimated roughly another 90 individuals are in custody in Vanderburgh Superior Court awaiting trials.

'œThe Constitution provides the right to a jury trial,'ť Kiely said. 'œIt's always a concern when people are incarcerated, and they haven't had their trial yet.'ť

Cases will start moving through the system again on July 20, but Kiely noted that it will take months before the backlog is cleared.

'œSix months would be great, but do I think that's realistic? I'm not sure,'ť he said. 'œIt could be a year before we actually pick up the backup.'ť

In the meantime, County Council approved $25,000 in a transfer of funds last week to install a new computer system to enable video streaming in Kiely's courtroom. This will allow him to lock the doors and allow jurors to observe social distancing guidelines by spreading into the gallery. Court sessions would still be considered open because they could be watched in real-time online.

The new system will likely be set up in a month.