SAGINAW COUNTY JURY TRIAL PLAN

The Saginaw County Jury Trial Plan includes an understanding that the first priority is the safety and security of all participants.  The Plan calls for trials to be held off-site from the courthouse at the Dow Event Center. The entire trial process will take place at the Dow, from jury selection through deliberation and verdict. The facility will allow for proper social distancing, and also provides enough space for conducting the trial and juror placement.  

Arrangements have been made with Sheriff William Federspiel for a contingent of armed deputies to be present during all proceedings. And on the days that hearings take place there will be no other events taking place at the Dow.

There will be no in-person viewing by the public.  In order to comply with Supreme Court Administrative guidelines requiring the proceedings be made available to the public, we have contracted with a local video production company, Snow Productions, to livestream the proceedings via Zoom/YouTube. There will be four cameras and six microphones used during the proceedings so that the judge, attorneys, and some witnesses will be able to be seen and heard.

Through the efforts of County Controller Robert Belleman, the costs for renting the Dow and for the livestreaming of the trial will be covered by CARES Act COVID-19 related funds.  The agreements with Jon Block, general manager of the Dow, and Al Snow, owner of the production company covers forty (40) days of trials and other hearings. The first scheduled day of trial is set for November 9^th.