An emergency order has been issued to extend time for COVID-19 safeguards in all courts, leaving it up to judges whether to postpone jury trials scheduled for January.

The order came early this week from Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph, and applies to trials scheduled through Jan. 28.

Since the onset of national and state emergencies created by COVID-19 in March 2020, the Supreme Court has issued a series of orders to address changing circumstances and evolving guidance provided by health authorities.

Emergency Administrative Order 26, issued on Jan. 11, says that judges who preside over drug intervention courts also are authorized to modify scheduling of drug testing and home supervision of participants.  The most recent order leaves in effect other safety provisions reimplemented Aug. 5, including using teleconferencing, videoconferencing and electronic filing to limit in-person contact in courts, and allowing felony plea hearings, felony sentencing hearings and probation violation hearings to be conducted remotely by way of interactive audiovisual equipment.