As some of the pandemic restrictions are starting to be relaxed, some precautions remain in place within the Iowa court system.

Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn says one of the rule changes for trials and hearings in the courtroom is for those that have been fully vaccinated or received their second dose for more than two weeks are no longer required to wear a face mask. However, Laehn points out those who have not been vaccinated are still required to wear a mask, but it is on the honor system. Laehn says another aspect that has remained in place since the courts opened in February is adhering to social distancing of at least six feet, which means jury selection takes place off site and the jury sits in the gallery, while the witnesses speak from the jury box. 

Laehn explains how he’s had to make some adjustments, due to people being more spread out, but has become more accustomed to the changes.

“Part of being a criminal attorney is performative. You’re speaking to a group of jurors. So you have to clearly speak (and) maintain eye contact. You’re really speaking to the jury. The jury is the sovereign in the room who will decide the defendant’s guilt or innocence. But I think we’ve all adapted pretty easily here in Greene County.”     

Laehn says the Iowa Supreme Court’s other change is pushing back the speedy trial deadline, where he has one year, to February 1, 2022, for those cases that happened during the pandemic, and to adjudicate those cases, otherwise he loses without a hearing or trial.

“So we have a pretty significant extension and I have no doubt that we will be able to prosecute all of our cases before that February 1st deadline.”

Laehn feels he has been able to get through several cases already, even while no jury trials were allowed to happen until this past March.