The Janet Hinds trial is one of the most anticipated Chattanooga trials in years. Although it’s now gotten past its multiple pandemic delays, we sought to find out how COVID could still impact a trial like this.
Hinds faces 10 charges including vehicular homicide by intoxication and leaving the scene in connection with the February 2019 death of Chattanooga Police Officer Nicholas Galinger.
Proper pandemic procedures were topics addressed during jury selection in Nashville on Thursday.
"We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and everybody’s tired of talking about it, but we’re gonna be in close confines for a while," said Ben McGowan during jury selection Thursday.
These are conversations happening now after jury trials in Tennessee have been resumed.
"The [Tennessee] Supreme Court in March of this year actually did away with the suspension and allowed more in-person trials and hearings," said Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don Poole.
Judge Poole is presiding over the Janet Hinds trial. He says the state Supreme Court has certain COVID protocols, but judges like himself also play a role.
"They did give the trial judges a great deal of discretion concerning face masks and things of this nature," Poole said.
For the Hinds case, he says everyone in the courtroom will be required to wear a mask, except lawyers while asking questions and witnesses while testifying.
"The lawyers can remove their face masks if they stay a goodly distance away from the jurors or anyone else," he said.
Judge Poole says witnesses will be behind plexiglass while testifying.
"There’s always an issue about the fact that jurors should see the face of the witnesses," he said.
As for the 16 jurors selected yesterday, Judge Poole has told them the court will do everything it can to keep them safe.
"We’re gonna have masks for them, extra masks, other sanitizing equipment," he said.
Judge Poole says he’s expecting a crowd for the trial.
"I think there will be a lot of people here. We’re gonna try to maintain some distancing," he said.
But Poole says he’s not yet placed a limit on the number of people he’ll allow in the courtroom.
The Hinds trial is set to begin in Chattanooga on Monday. 5 men and 11 women picked in Davidson County, Tennessee will serve on the jury. They will be sequestered for the duration of the trial.
Depend on us to bring you continuing coverage of the trial.