Madison County Circuit Judge William Mudge entered an order Thursday continuing criminal felony jury trials currently set through December due to increased COVID-19 positivity rates.
The move was made in light of the COVID-19 positivity rate reported by the Madison County Health Department, “in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and in the interest of the health and safety of all court users, staff, and judicial officers during these extraordinary circumstances.”
“The continuances occasioned by this order serve the ends of justice and outweigh the best interests of the public and defendants in a speedy trial and proper distancing and facilities limitations prevent such trials from proceeding safely,” Mudge wrote.
On Nov. 12, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 12,702 new COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate from Nov. 5-11 of 12.6 percent. In response, the IDPH recommends residents stay home “as much as possible” for the next three weeks.
“In our current situation, with a rising prevalence of the virus, attending even small gatherings that mix households, or traveling to areas that are experiencing high rates of positivity, is not advised,” according to a Nov. 12 press release from the IDPH.
The Madison County Health Department reported 117 new cases on Nov. 12, two of which were considered “probable.” The seven-day average case positivity rate was 10.85 percent.