Starting in September, jury selection for trials scheduled for the Hall of Justice in Redwood City will be moved to the San Mateo County Event Center in order to provide additional space for social distancing, the County said.
The San Mateo County Superior Court will rent Cypress Hall at the Event Center for one year for about $265,000, a price that includes frequent custodial cleanings, the County said in a statement Tuesday. Cypress Hall offers 15,680 square feet of banquet space.
Jury selections for trials in the Northern Branch court in South San Francisco could also be moved to the Event Center as well.
Trials will continue to be conducted in Redwood City and South City courtrooms. Sometime after Sept. 7, prospective jurors will receive instructions on their jury summons to report to the Event Center.
“The Court hopes to address the large backlog of jury trials that has accumulated as a result of the pandemic and the associated social distancing and shelter-in-place orders,” Neal Taniguchi, court executive officer, said in a statement.
Photo credit: San Mateo County Event Center
