North Dakota high court postpones trials amid COVID-19 worry

The North Dakota Supreme Court announced Friday all civil and criminal jury trials are postponed until July 1, as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the state.

Health officials reported 45 new cases of the cornonavirus Friday, bringing the statewide total to 439. Ninety-seven of the cases have been reported since Wednesday.

There have been nine deaths due to the coronavirus in the state but none were reported Friday.

The Supreme Court said it was extending an emergency order postponing trials from April 24 to July 1. Bench trials and hearings are not officially suspended, but judges now have until July to decide whether to cancel or postpone them.

The court is also giving defendants the opportunity to offer written pleas to Class C felonies, after previously making that option available for people facing probation sentences.

Officials said 638 people have been screened since Thursday bringing the total number tested in North Dakota to nearly 12,350.

Health officials said there were 16 coronavirus patients who were hospitalized on Friday.

(Image Credit: AP)