See you in court? In Gig Harbor, not until May. Municipal Court suspends trials until then, sends jurors home

Gig Harbor Municipal Court is curtailing some operations, including jury trials, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city has announced.. Jurors called between now an April need not report.

Beginning this week, modifications to court operations are as follows:

• Jury trials are suspended through April 2020.
• Persons scheduled to appear for a criminal proceeding between March 16 and April 3, will have their hearing continued* 60 days, with some exceptions. A summons will be sent to the address on file. Failure to appear will result in a bench warrant for arrest.
• In-custody cases and other emergency matters will be heard weekly as scheduled.
• Jurors summoned between March 16 and April 30 are excused from service.
• Contested civil infractions are continued to the month of May or thereafter. Persons cited will receive notification of the new date in the mail.
• Mitigated civil infractions will be converted to hearings-by-mail only.
• Court staff will be available via telephone (253) 851-7808 or via email court@cityofgigharbor.netduring normal business hours.

*“Continued” is lawspeak for “postponed.”

For additional information contact Stacy Colberg, Court Administrator (253) 853-7619.

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This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 5:00 PM.