Potential delay of jury trials
The Pottawatomie County Attorney’s Office currently has three jury trials scheduled to begin in August, but those may be delayed due to the ongoing pandemic.
“Right now, our Supreme Court does not want us to hold any jury trials unless it is a constitutional violation of speedy trial, which we are not (in violation) on any of our current cases,” Sherri Schuck, Pottawatomie County attorney, said.
The right to a “speedy trial” is laid out in the sixth amendment of the U.S. Constitution and ensures that a defendant will be granted a trial within a reasonably short period of time following an arrest.
According to Schuck, while it is yet to be determined if jury trials will be delayed, there is a good chance they will be.
She says she hopes trials won’t be delayed for the sake of both the defendants and victims involved.
“Victims have a right to have a resolution on their cases and we have some that have been pending for a while; since November or December of last year,” Schuck said.
Pottawatomie County currently has nine jury trials scheduled to begin this year.
Christmas lights on courthouse
The old Pottawatomie County Courthouse, located in Westmoreland, is now one step closer to being decorated with Christmas lights this year.
The Pottawatomie County Commission decided during its meeting Monday to allow the courthouse to be decorated with Christmas lights, as long as the project is funded by private donations.
Citizens for Courthouse Conservation board member Dorothy Campbell says the CCC has already committed money towards the project.
“They did have a motion to spend as much as up to $1,500 out of their general fund,” Campbell said. “The five board members that were there pledged $50 a piece.”
According to Campbell, a number of private donations have also come in, including one for about $1,000.
She also says the City of Westmoreland will send out calls for private donations in the newsletter it sends out with water bills.
Campbell said during the meeting that the project was previously estimated to have a cost of about $4,000 to $5,000.
Pottawatomie County Commissioners Greg Riat and Pat Weixelman said they would personally donate to the project, but have not disclosed how much.
County officials have been working with the Kansas Historical Society to make sure plans for the project meet certain guidelines as the courthouse is on the state Register of Historic Places.
In other Pottawatomie County news…
- The county commission approved a renewal of an existing State of Local Disaster Emergency proclamation. The renewal, known as Resolution #2020-37, will extend the proclamation for up to 60 days unless renewed or terminated. In renewing the proclamation, the county is attempting to sustain state assistance in gaining access to resources that will help officials in handling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
