Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick is asking residents that receive a jury summons in the mail
to respond to it. Several cases in the county are still backlogged due to COVID-19. At this time,
only about 5% of residents are responding to jury notices. Judge Branick says jurors are needed
for functioning the criminal justice system in civil and criminal courtrooms. Branick says as a
last resort, judges could send law enforcement to citizens that have not responded to a jury
summons notice.