Well, that was fast. VLSI-Intel III has been adjourned as of this morning on account of multiple (we think) jurors testing positive for COVID-19. The Court’s resultant message to the parties was along the lines of, “Somewhere down the road we’ll pick another jury.”
Judge Albright’s formally promulgated trial procedures have not, as far as we can tell, provided for daily COVID testing since VLSI-Intel I. The COVID-safety-related formal trial procedures in place for VLSI-Intel III consist of (1) a statement that “[a]ll individuals who enter the Courthouse shall be expected to adhere to CDC guidelines for COVID-19”; and (2) a self-screening questionnaire that also incorporates by reference the “[s]elf-assessment health signage [that] is already posted conspicuously around the Courthouse.”
We will do our best to keep you posted about revised arrangements for reconvening the trial, whenever that may be.
The blog thanks Jacob Porter for his assistance concerning this story.
Update: It has since been reported that the COVID diagnoses were not within the jury, but within one of the trial teams.