Erie County Postpones Most Trials Until Next Year Amid Worsening Pandemic

The latest surge in COVID-19 cases has forced Erie County courts to postpone most trials until next year.

The last time this happened was back in April at the start of the pandemic.

This means that people waiting for their trials are going to have to wait even longer. President Judge John Trucilla put an emergency judicial order in place today to postpone all trials until January 4.

Trucilla said the situation will be reevaluated at that point.

This is all due to the rise in coronavirus cases we are seeing in Erie County.

Judge Trucilla said he is putting this order in place for the health and safety of the public and all employees at the courthouse.

"It does bring us back to the early stages of when we recognized the pandemic," said Judge Trucilla. "But I think it's called for. That public health concern and our employees here are of critical importance." 

Judge Trucilla also said that after going through this in the spring, they have a better understanding and a blueprint of what needs to be done this time around.