Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann announced this week that with the move to Level 1, hearings with juries would recommence around the country in August.
Dunedin will blaze the trail, holding the first at the end of July, she confirmed.
Chief District Court Judge Heemi Taumanu said the early trial was designed to test summonsing jurors.
“Although New Zealand is now at Covid-19 Level 1, the judiciary is aware that Covid-19 may have impacted on the work or financial situation of some, meaning that it will be difficult for them to serve on a jury at the moment,” he said.
“Holding an earlier trial will enable the Ministry of Justice to quickly assess the responses and determine the correct number of summonses needing to be sent out nationally.”
Dunedin Crown solicitor Robin Bates said the court had worked efficiently during the lockdown but the list of jury-trial matters continued to grow.
Though the backlog was perhaps not as large as other centres, the sooner it was reduced the better, he said, for complainants, defendants and witnesses.
Ministry of Justice general manager of health, safety and security Maeve Neilson said hygiene protocols would remain in place but there would be no requirement for the jury pool to physically distance from one another.
