Some Madison County trials start next month, capital murder cases delayed until 2021

Some Madison County trials start next month, capital murder cases delayed until 2021

Earliest.

Waay 31' sydney martin is live outside the courthouse after learning more about the delay.

Presiding judge ruth ann hall told me about half of the capital murder cases scheduled for trial this year were cases where the state is seeking the death penalty.

She told me with all cases, but especially capital murder cases - they don't want to be forced to try them more than once.

Ruth ann hall, madision county presiding judge "a capital case is very stressful.

For the lawyers, the families, for the judge.

It's a very stressful event and some of the testimony can be very difficult to hear."

Madison county presiding judge ruth ann hall told me the decision to postpone capital murder cases until 20-21 wasn't an easy one - but something that the judges decided was necessary because of safety concerns with coronavirus.

Hall explained that because of all the work that goes into a capital murder case - it's important to make sure there's not a mistrial.

But - they could run into that risk if the jury, attornies, defendent or judge in a case gets sick.

"you certainly don't want to have to have a family or a defendant to go through that multiple times."

Hall told me many with social distancing practices in place in courtrooms - there's not space for people who are usually there during a capital cases, like the victim or suspects family or members of the public... she said once the cases are heard, the changes will make them different than the past.

"we will have technology available to where they will be able to view the court proceedings in anothera area.

Whether that's another courtroom, another room but it will be remote access."

But she said doing the entire trial virtually is not something that she feels comfortable with..

"we've done as many trials as we could by virtual hearings, but trials are something different.

You need to be present in my opinion for trials especially one where you could be taking someone's libery from them potentially."

Judge hall told me she expects for these trials to take longer than usual.

She said because of the social distancing and safety practices, jury selection alone could take a least a week because they can't bring more than 100 potential jurors in the courthouse at one time.

Live in huntsville sm waay 31