Wisconsin jury trials postponed for weeks because of virus

The spread of COVID-19 will cause many courtrooms around Wisconsin to go dark for the next month or so. 

Under orders from the state Supreme Court, jury trials in the state are suspended through May 22nd. 

Justices say the virus outbreak poses a health risk to people taking part in traditional jury trials, and might cause healthy jury members to become overly anxious and perform poorly as jurors. 

In most cases, court appearances in person by defendants will be postponed into late April, or will be conducted by video hookups or other distancing methods. 

No major criminal trials in La Crosse County appear to be affected by the court order.