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Bexar County grand juries conclude service under challenging circumstances
Pandemic and cold weather mark panel’s two-month terms
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SAN ANTONIO – The circumstances under which the two latest grand juries served were anything but ideal, with the pandemic ongoing and the recent winter storms in the Bexar County area.
The 12-member panels met alternately twice weekly in the cavernous central jury room in the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center basement, which made maintaining social distancing ideal. All other COVID-19 protocols were also followed, including masks and constant cleaning.
“They came in during the worst part of the pandemic and worked every day,” Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel said Tuesday.
Sheriff making changes at the Bexar County jail to address court case backlog
Virtual hearings to increase within the jail
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SAN ANTONIO – When Administrative Judge Ron Rangel reached out to members of the criminal justice system in San Antonio for help to address the 66% drop in the increase of cases awaiting trial as a result of a backlog created by a moratorium on jury service, it didn’t take long for the sheriff to respond.
”We’re going to make sure that the jail is not the reason for that backlog”, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Thursday.
He said he is making additional space available in order so that more virtual hearings can be conducted at the jail.
Bench trials an option to address case backlog in Bexar County courts
Bench trials used frequently as pandemic continues, primarily used for misdemeanor cases
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SAN ANTONIO – As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches one year, the resulting backlog of cases in the Bexar County Criminal Justice System continues to grow since an emergency order from the Texas Supreme Court prohibits in-person jury trials.
One option available to both the state and the defense to resolve cases is a bench trial in which a judge serves as both the judge and jury.
“It’s a daunting proposition,” Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel said Monday.