Presiding Judge to Halt Anchorage Jury Trials

William F. Morse, Presiding Judge of the Third Judicial District, will temporarily halt Jury trials in Anchorage effective July 28.

In his order, Presiding Judge Morse cited that the average daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people on July 26 was 25.60 for the Municipality of Anchorage. Morse wrote that jury trials would be suspended until at least August 13 and that he would review the suspension of Anchorage jury trials on August 11.

On July 22, Judge Morse issued an order suspending jury trials in the Kenai Peninsula Borough on July 26, noting in his order an increase in the daily average number of COVID-19 cases in that area. Jury trials in the Kenai Peninsula Borough are suspended until at least August 6, and the suspension will be reviewed on August 4.

COVID-19 case counts have been increasing across Anchorage in recent weeks. Today, the CEOs of several Alaska Hospitals gave a media briefing about Alaska's limited hospital capacity and concerning trends.

Yesterday, Alaska State Hospital Nursing Home Association (ASHNHA) wrote in their weekly Pulse Newsletter that "Alaska’s health care system is in a far more fragile state than at any other point of the pandemic, with high volumes, high acuity, and staffing placing Anchorage hospitals, and many other facilities, under significant stress."

The ASHNHA newsletter also stated that if the rising "COVID cases coalesce into significant hospital admissions across the system, Alaska will experience a crisis."

ASHNHA is asking everyone to get vaccinated and to be vocal about supporting the Covid-19 vaccine.