SAN ANTONIO – Though the moratorium on jury service that was ordered last spring amid fears of spreading the coronavirus remains in place in Bexar County, it has been modified to allow for social distancing. On Monday, the first jury summonses for virtual civil jury trials were mailed to prospective jurors. Schulze, along with Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel and the Bexar County IT Department, developed the new virtual jury system. Rangel says the system only applies to civil jury trials. The entire proceedings, from jury summons to jury selection and testimony, will be done remotely.

SAN ANTONIO – Opposition to conduct virtual civil jury trials in Bexar County to address the backlog of court cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic is growing. Another attempt at conducting a virtual civil jury trial is scheduled for November 9th, Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel said Wednesday. In September, a trial failed when all parties could not agree to the proceeding, as is mandated by a Texas Supreme Court order allowing virtual civil jury trials. The president of the local American Board of Trial Advocates says 90% of the group’s membership opposes virtual civil jury trials. “Most of our membership thinks that it would be very difficult to get a true measure of justice from a virtual jury panel.”

SAN ANTONIO The first-ever virtual jury trial in civil court in Bexar County was delayed Wednesday. Consent from lawyers and their clients was the issue that caused the original trial, set for Wednesday, to be delayed. We do not have a case wherein both attorneys have consented to date, said 57th District Court Judge Antonia Arteaga, who will preside over the trial. Plans for virtual trial in Bexar County hit temporary snagA panel of civil court judges will now choose a new case for the virtual jury. The virtual court is a pilot project in which all parties -- the judge, jury, attorneys and clients -- work remotely.