Remote Jury Selection & Keeping the Doors of Justice Open

Earlier this year, Terry Mueller, of the Law Office of Steven A Lihosit, represented the defense in Illinois’ first remote civil jury trial, Renata Raskin v. Alexander Mitchell in Lake County’s 19th Judicial Circuit Court. Mueller writes about the prep work, attention to detail, and lessons learned from the trial as he and the other attorneys in the case navigated new procedures created by the Illinois Supreme Court to strike a balance between the Seventh Amendment’s guaranteed right to a trial by jury and public health guidelines for preventing the spread of the contagious coronavirus in close quarters like court facilities. Mueller especially highlights the most impactful provisions of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 and shares how COVID-19 has changed the legal landscape of remote jury selection.

Read more in the June issue of the Illinois Bar Journal.