The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended jury trials statewide due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jury trials in the state will be suspended until March 1, 2021.

“We have hope that 2021 will bring improved conditions. But hoping is not enough. There is more we must do, and we must act now,” Chief Justice Loretta Rush said in a press release on Monday. “Since March, we have been balancing the requirement to keep courts open with the need for public health. The worsening pandemic creates urgency for us to halt jury trials as we maintain all other court operations, including through remote proceedings.”

The court is taking this drastic measure to keep everyone safe from COVID-19. The court says even with strict precautions, jury trials pose risks to all involved.

More information about the court’s response to COVID-19 can be found on the state’s website.