The Iowa Supreme Court issued a supervisory order that once again delayed any jury trials until February 1st. 

This was the second such mandate from the state supreme court, due to the raising COVID-19 cases. Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn says they have been continuing to prosecute criminal cases, despite the fact jury trials have been put on hold again. Laehn points out another benefit was the mandate that also delays the one-year period where county attorneys have to prosecute a case from the date that it was filed.

“So that clock has been turned off and will restart on February 1st. I will then have one year from February 1, 2021 to resolve all of my pending cases. So that extension makes a huge difference.”

Laehn points out he has never had to dismiss a criminal case because it was in danger of running up against the one year speedy trial law. He adds that the first jury trial date slated for Greene County is March 2nd and feels his office continues to be in a good position to handle jury trials when those start back up.