Morgan County’s spring term of Grand Jury has been postponed twice, and is now set to hear cases on Wednesday, June 17. This session will be the meeting of the Grand Jury that was supposed to meet in April to consider criminal charges in Morgan County Circuit Court. Grand jurors selected in January will be called to hear cases presented by the Prosecuting Attorney.
Hearings set for April and May were not able to take place due to ongoing restrictions on public buildings and in-person gatherings.
The Grand Jury, made up of 16 local jurors, hears evidence in criminal cases from the Prosecuting Attorney and law enforcement investigators to determine if felony or misdemeanor cases are warranted in those cases.
Jurors are chosen in January and serve for all three Grand Jury meetings of the year. Those typically happen in January, April and September.
Following a meeting of the Grand Jury, those indicted on criminal charges will enter pleas of guilt or innocence and future hearings will be set in their cases.
The Morgan County Courthouse has been closed to general public access since Tuesday, March 24 due to state restrictions meant to reduce the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.
County officials reopened the courthouse on May 18 with restrictions pertaining to the number of people permitted in each office, and the use of face masks.
Court hearings are under the direction of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, which has restricted in-person hearings during the coronavirus pandemic. Court officials have put in place protocols to protect the public and court employees as in-person hearings start again.
