Litigation Packet

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented interruptions in jury trials across the country. Conducting jury trials safely during the pandemic posed substantial practical and legal challenges for courts who must balance the safety of the public against litigants’ Seventh Amendment rights. Delayed justice has left thousands waiting for their day in court.

AAJ has been actively monitoring the steps courts are taking to resume jury trials in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Across the country, every court has been presented with problems specific to the jurisdiction, courthouse facility, and even the type of case to be heard. Although circumstances vary from state to state—and even among communities within each state—there are primarily three ways courts are planning to safely resume jury trials: (1) fully virtual; (2) fully in-person; and (3) a hybrid of virtual and in-person.

The Guide to In-Person and Virtual Jury Trials During the Pandemic Litigation Packet was prepared by the AAJ Exchange to aid trial lawyers preparing for jury trials during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This Litigation Packet includes sample motions, sample briefs, orders, articles, summaries of trial experiences, AAJ Education speaker papers, and other materials.

This Litigation Packet is free for all AAJ plaintiff attorney members and one of the many resources AAJ has released as a part of the Practicing During the Pandemic Project.