The wheels of justice turn slow for some. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped those wheels for eight months but now the wheels are moving forward again, just a little slower.
Presiding Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Ray Martin said official health recommendations will be followed as jury trials resume in Alexander City on Nov. 30. Martin said the courtroom might be the safest public place around.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x’G6 366? :? (2=>2CE 2?5 x’G6 366? :? E96 4@FCEC@@>[” |2CE:? D2:5] “x 766= D276C :? E96 4@FCEC@@> 3642FD6 6G6CJ3@5J :D E6>A6C2EFC6 4964<65j 6G6CJ3@5J 92D 2 >2D< @?j 6G6CJ3@5J :D e @C >@C6 766E 2A2CE] %96 D2768F2C5D 2C6 36:?8 7@==@H65 96C6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? D2:5 7@==@H:?8 E96 D2768F2C5D >62?D H966=D H:== ?@E >@G6 2D 72DE 2D 367@C6 E96 A2?56>:4]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 92G6 >@C6 E9:?8D H6 92G6 E@ 7@==@H[” |2CE:? D2:5] “$@>6 E9:?8D H:== E2<6 =@?86C E92? E96J 5:5 367@C6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? 2=C625J 92D 6IA6C:6?46 :? 4@?5F4E:?8 ;FCJ EC:2=D 5FC:?8 2 A2?56>:4]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 925 2 ;FCJ E6C> :? #2?5@=A9 r@F?EJ[” |2CE:? D2:5] “(6 H6?E E@ G6C5:4E :? EH@ 42D6D — @?6 @7 E96> H2D 2 >FC56C 42D6 E92E E@@< >@DE @7 E96 7:CDE H66<]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? D2:5 E96 8F:56=:?6D 7@C ;FCJ EC:2=D >:CC@C E96 C64@>>6?52E:@?D 7C@> 962=E9 @77:4:2=D E@ AC6G6?E E96 DAC625 @7 r~'xs\`h]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 ;FDE E@@< 6G6CJ AC642FE:@? W:? #2?5@=A9 r@F?EJX[ e 766E 2A2CE[ >2?52E@CJ >2D<D 2== E96 E:>6[ 92?5 D2?:E:K6C 2?5 8=@G6D FA@? C6BF6DE[” |2CE:? D2:5] “%92E :D AC6EEJ >F49 H92E H6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 5@ 96C6] tG6CJ >6492?:D> 7@C D276EJ E92E H6 92G6 2G2:=23=6[ H6 2C6 E2<:?8]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? D2:5 4@FCEC@@>D 92G6 366? >62DFC65 2?5 5:G:565 E@ 244@>A=:D9 D@4:2= 5:DE2?4:?8] qFE >@C6 @7 E96 D>2== E9:?8D 92G6 366? =@@<65 2E E@@]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“{:EE=6 E9:?8D =:<6 >2<:?8 DFC6 E96 !]p] DJDE6> H@C<D[ 2F5:@G:DF2= H@C<D[” |2CE:? D2:5] “r@>>F?:42E:@? :D >@C6 5:77:4F=E :? >2D<D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? D2:5 #2?5@=A9 r@F?EJ C6?@G2E65 :ED 4@FCEC@@> :? E96 >@?E9D AC:@C E@ :ED A@DE\A2?56>:4 E6C> 2?5 A=6I:8=2DD 2E E96 H:E?6DD DE2?5 H2D :?4=F565 2D 2 D2768F2C5] |2CE:? D2:5 D:>:=2C >62DFC6D 7@C E96 EH@ 4@FCEC@@>D :? %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ 2C6 36:?8 =@@<65 :?E@[ 3FE |2CE:? :D?’E E@@ H@CC:65 23@FE :E :? %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“w6C6 :D E96 E9:?8 23@FE E96 ?6H Wp=6I2?56C r:EJX 4@FCEC@@>[” |2CE:? D2:5] “pE 4:EJ 92== 2E E96 FADE2:CD 4@FCEC@@>[ :E H@F=5 36 G:CEF2==J :>A@DD:3=6j H6 4@F=5?’E 5@ :E] w6C6 :? E9:D 4@FCEC@@>[ :E :D =2C86] (6 92G6 DA246 7C@> E96 82==6CJ E@ E96 32C] (6 ;FDE 8@E >@C6 C@@>]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm!C6G6?E2E:G6 >62DFC6D 5@?’E ;FDE 2AA=J E@ E96 4@FCEC@@>]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 2C6 5@:?8 E96 D2>6 7@C ;FCJ 56=:36C2E:@?[” |2CE:? D2:5] “(6 42?’E FD6 E96 ;FCJ C@@>[ AC@323=J 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ FD6 E96 D>2== 4@FCEC@@> H9:49 :D H92E H6 5:5 :? #2?5@=A9 r@F?EJ]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(9:=6 E96 D2768F2C5D 62D:=J 2==@H 7@C ;FCJ EC:2=D E@ C6DF>6[ E96 7:CDE 52J @7 2 E6C> :D 2=H2JD E96 >@DE 4C@H65 2E E96 4@FCE9@FD6 2D 6G6CJ@?6 H9@ C646:G65 2 ;FCJ DF>>@?D 4@>6D] |62DFC6D 92G6 366? E2<6? E@ 96=A E96C6 E@@]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 92G6 2? 6=64EC@?:4 DJDE6> ?@H H96C6 ;FC@CD 42? 8@ @?=:?6 E@ 2?DH6C E96 BF2=:7:42E:@?D[” |2CE:? D2:5] “%96J 2C6 2EE6DE:?8 E96J 2C6 E6==:?8 E96 ECFE9 :? E96D6 BF2=:7:42E:@? BF6DE:@?D 2?5 2 =@E @7 6I4FD6 D:EF2E:@?D 42? 36 E2<6? FA E92E H2J] %96 6?E:C6 E9:?8 :D H6 2C6 <66A:?8 5@H? E96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 :? E96 4@FCE9@FD6 2?5 4@FCEC@@>]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 DF>>@?D 2=D@ 92D DE2886C65 E:>6D E@ C6A@CE E@ E96 4@FCE9@FD6 E@ :?DFC6 76H6C A6@A=6 2C6 E96C6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“~? E96 @?6D E92E 6=64EC@?:42==J 2?DH6C[ E96J 2C6 AC6BF2=:7:65] %92E 4FED 5@H? E:>6 D@ >F49[” |2CE:? D2:5] “*@F 92G6 2 =@E @7 7@=<D H9@ 5@?’E 92G6 E96 42A24:EJ @C 2C6 ?@E 46CE2:? 23@FE 5@:?8 2 ;FC@C E9:?8 @?=:?6] %96J 92G6 BF6DE:@?D] ~?6 @7 E96 8C@FAD H:== 36 E9@D6 7@=<D] xE H:== E2<6 2 =:EE=6 3:E =@?86C 3FE :E H@C<65 @FE]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu:7E9 yF5:4:2= r:C4F:E s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J y6C6>J sF6CC D2:5 E96C6 :D ?@ ?665 E@ H@CCJ 23@FE :?7@C>2E:@? 36:?8 D92C65 7C@> E96 6=64EC@?:4 BF2=:7:42E:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 ;FCJ DF>>@?D H:E9 E96 >6DD286 E@ 8@ @?=:?6 E@ 86E AC6BF2=:7:65[ E96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 96D:E2E:@?D 23@FE 2?DH6C:?8 E9@D6 BF6DE:@?D[” sF6CC D2:5] “%9@D6 2?DH6CD DE2J 4@?7:56?E:2= H:E9:? @FC @H? 4@FCE DJDE6>] x7 H6 92G6 ;FC@CD :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ 2?DH6C:?8 E96D6 BF6DE:@?D[ >J @77:46[ E96 ;F586[ E96 4=6C<’D @77:46 2?5 E96 5676?D6 2EE@C?6J 2C6 E96 @?6D H9@ H:== 92G6 2446DD E@ E92E] xE :D E96 D2>6 2D :7 E96J 2C6 2?DH6C:?8 E96D6 BF6DE:@?D :? 4@FCE] %96C6 H@?’E 36 D@>6@?6 :? wF?EDG:==6 H:E9 2? 6I\H:76 96C6[ D2J:?8 ‘x ;FDE 7@F?5 @FE D96 8@E 2 ;FCJ DF>>@?D :? %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ] {6E >6 8@ =@@< FA 2?5 D66 H92E D96 2?DH6C65]’ %92E :D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 36 A@DD:3=6] xE :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2D D276 2D :E :D :7 E96J H6C6 96C6 :? E96 4@FCEC@@> 2?DH6C:?8 E96 BF6DE:@?]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? D2:5 E96 2?DH6CD H:== 36 D2768F2C565 3J E96 4:C4F:E 4=6C<’D @77:46]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 4:C4F:E 4=6C<’D @77:46 92D >2?J D2768F2C5D :? A=246 7@C >2?J 2DA64ED @7 4@FCE[” |2CE:? D2:5] “%96J 92G6 252AE65 E@ E96 ?6H 6=64EC@?:4 C64@C5 2?5 DE@C286 E@ 92G6 E9@D6 D2768F2C5D :? A=246]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? D2:5 E9:D 2DA64E @7 ;FCJ D6CG:46 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4 4@F=5 D2G6 E:>6 :? 7FEFC6 4@FCE E6C>D H:E9 @C H:E9@FE E96 A2?56>:4]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%9:D :D @?6 E9:?8 E@ 96=A FD 2D 72C 2D 72C 2D 64@?@>J @7 E:>6[” |2CE:? D2:5] “x7 D@>6@?6 :D 2=C625J AC6BF2=:7:65 @C :7 D@>6@?6 5@6D?’E AC6BF2=:7J] {6E’D D2J J@F 92G6 D@>6@?6 E92E 92D >@G65 2?5 =:G6D D@>6H96C6 :? r@@D2 r@F?EJ[ E96 4=6C< 42? E2<6 42C6 @7 E92Ej E96J 5@?’E 92G6 E@ 4@>6 96C6 E@ 4@FCE E@ 36 6I4FD65] (:E9 E96 r~'xs 6I4FD6D[ 92D 2?J@?6 E6DE65 A@D:E:G6[ :D 2?J@?6 D:4< H:E9 E9:D G:CFD[ E96D6 2C6 2== H66565 @FE]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? 2?5 sF6CC D2:5 @?6 @7 E96 C62D@?D 4@FCE >2J E2<6 =@?86C :D 3642FD6 @77:4:2=D 2C6 92G:?8 E@ =62C? 9@H E@ 4@?5F4E E96 3FD:?6DD @7 4@FCE :? 2 A2?56>:4 2?5 <66A 6G6CJ@?6 D276]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 2C6 2== =62C?:?8 E9:D @? E96 7=J 2D H6 8@[” sF6CC D2:5] “tG6CJ ;F586[ 6G6CJ AC@D64FE@C[ 6G6CJ 2EE@C?6J :D 92G:?8 E@ =62C? E9:D 2D H6 8@]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? D2:5 4@FCED 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 :?4=F5:?8 9:D 92G6 366? 4@?5F4E:?8 962C:?8D 2?5 >@C6 D:?46 @C56CD 7@==@H:?8 E96 A2?56>:4 62D65 2?5 6BF:A>6?E 7C@> E96 DE2E6 2==@H65 G:CEF2= 962C:?8D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 92G6 366? 8@:?8 H:E9 ?@?\;FCJ E9:?8D G:CEF2==J 2?5 :? A6CD@? :? D@>6 42D6D D:?46 62C=J :? E9:D A2?56>:4[” |2CE:? D2:5] “':CEF2==J[ =6E’D D2J H6 2C6 92G:?8 2 962C:?8[ 2 AC@32E:@? C6G@42E:@?] (6 42? AFE E96 2EE@C?6J 2?5 9:D 4=:6?E[ H9@ >:89E 36 :? ;2:= @? 2 =2AE@A[ :? 2 3C62<@FE C@@> H96C6 E96J 42? 4@?7:56?E:2==J 4@>>F?:42E6 2?5 E96? 3C:?8 E96> 324< :?E@ E96 962C:?8] xE 92D 366? H@C<:?8[ ;FDE E2<6D 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 E:>6[ 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 A=2??:?8]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2CE:? D2:5 E649?@=@8J 2==@HD 7@C D@>6 G:CEF2= E9:?8D :? ;FCJ EC:2=D DF49 2D H:E?6DD6D 2E 56A@D:E:@?D 92G6 366? 2==@H65 7@C J62CD[ 3FE :E H:== 36 @? 2 42D6\3J\42D6 32D:D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“p7E6C E9:D J@F 42??@E 362E EC25:E:@?2= 4@FCE =:<6 H6 925[” |2CE:? D2:5] “%92E :D ;FDE E96 H2J :E :D DFAA@D65 E@ 36] W':CEF2= E@@=D 2C6X 8@:?8 E@ 36 =@?8 E6C>[ D@>6E9:?8 H6 42? FD6 :? DA64:2=:K65 4:C4F>DE2?46D] (6 42? 252AE :E 7@C DA64:2= FD6] x 5@ ?@E D66 E9:D 2D E96 H2J H6 5@ 4@FCE 7C@> ?@H @? 2D :? >@DE 42D6D H6 ?665 E@ 92G6 =:G6 A6CD@?D AC6D6?E :? E96 4@FCEC@@>]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm#2?5@=A9 r@F?EJ :D @?6 @7 7@FC 4@F?E:6D :? E96 u:7E9 yF5:4:2= r:C4F:E] q@E9 |2CE:? 2?5 sF6CC EC:65 42D6D E96C6 =2DE H66< 2?5 3@E9 2C6 4@?7:56?E E96C6 D9@F=5 36 ?@ :DDF6D :? %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ 7@C ;FCJ EC:2=D @E96C E92? E96> E2<:?8 >@C6 E:>6]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x? #2?5@=A9 r@F?EJ[ H6 925 2 ;FCJ C625J 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 7:CDE 52J[” |2CE:? D2:5 “%@ >6 :E H2D 23D@=FE6=J 2>2K:?8 H:E9 6G6CJE9:?8 8@:?8 @?] !2E:6?46 :D <6J] p?J3@5J E92E 92D 6G6C 366? @? 2 ;FCJ <?@HD[ J@F 92G6 2 =@E @7 9FCCJ FA 2?5 H2:E] %96C6 :D 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6 ?@H]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmyFCJ EC:2=D C6DF>6 :? s256G:==6 s64] e 2?5 E96 D2>6 D2768F2C5D H:== 36 FD65 2E E96 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ r@FCE9@FD6[ ;FDE >@5:7:65 7@C E96 724:=:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
