Nine court security bailiffs in quarantine after one tests positive for COVID-19
ASHEVILLE, N.C. Dec 4 2020— Nine bailiffs working court security at the Buncombe County Courthouse are in quarantine after one bailiff tested positive for COVID-19, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office reported.
It started when one bailiff working court security recently tested positive, and now eight additional bailiffs are in quarantine as of Monday, Nov. 30, waiting for their COVID-19 test results.
“I knew about it before I came to work on Monday,” said Chief District Courts Judge Calvin Hill. “If somebody’s got it, then yeah, that’s a concern.”
Nine court security bailiffs in quarantine after one tests positive for COVID-19
Hill said Monday, Nov. 30, is when he learned the eight bailiffs would be quarantined, so he then made sure the shifts would be covered.
The sheriff’s office was quick to get fill-in bailiffs.
Hill has decided doing jury trials right now isn’t safe and said he will revisit resuming them in January.
However, Superior Court Judge Alan Thornburg has been doing jury trials and currently has one underway in his court on floor five in the old courthouse this week.
One bailiff working court security at Buncombe County Courthouse recently tested positive, and now eight additional bailiffs are in quarantine as of Monday, Nov. 30, waiting for their COVID-19 test results. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
“It does raise a lot of concerns,” said Asheville attorney Steve Lindsay, who is aware the decision is up to judges.
“There are counties that say they’re not going to do it,” Lindsay said.
Hill said the courtroom where Thornburg is holding trials does have the ability to properly separate jurors based on CDC guidelines.
The trial court administrator said there is one additional staffer in quarantine after possible exposure.
Pamela and Tony Johnson were at the courthouse Wednesday, Dec. 2, for court business, and expressed they felt safe knowing everyone inside the building was wearing a mask.
Hill said because jury seats are installed into the floor in his courtroom, it’s another reason why he decided it wasn’t prudent to hold trials at this time.
WMYA
