COVID-19 and Jury Duty at the Deschutes County Circuit Court

The health and safety of jurors is of utmost importance to the Judges and staff at the Deschutes County Circuit Court. We recognize that we must make it safe to serve as a juror to protect individual jurors and to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

If you are in a high-risk group for COVID-19 as defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or work in a medical environment that places you in contact with COVID-19 positive people, please contact the Jury Coordinator to defer and reschedule your jury service.

“I think you all made the experience very safe for the jurors, & everyone involved in trial under these tough circumstances. Thank you for all the information you provided regarding the schedule. It made things less anxiety filled for myself.”

- Juror from trial held June 23, 2020.

We have made the following changes to make jury duty as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Jury Orientation

Jury orientation is being held at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in North Sister Conference Center. This 9,500 square foot facility provides ample room for jury orientation with jurors seated six feet apart. All chairs are sanitized using medical grade wipes between orientation sessions. The content of jury orientation has been reduced to decrease the amount of time jurors spend in jury orientation. Masks are required.

Jury Trials - Fairgrounds

Most twelve-person jury trials and some six-person jury trials are being held at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in the North Sister Conference Center. This facility allows for jurors to be seated six feet apart in the courtroom and in the jury deliberation room. In the jury deliberation room, each juror has their own individual table and a HEPA air filtration system purifies the air. If you have concerns or comments during or after your service at the fairgrounds, please contact the Trial Court Administrator at 541.317.4772.