Lamont Loosens Mask Mandate; Jury Trials Resuming June 1

Masks can come off — for vaccinated individuals, in most settings statewide — starting Wednesday, according to a new order signed by Gov. Ned Lamont.

And jury trials in Connecticut will resume starting June 1.

That mask-related update came Tuesday afternoon thanks to Gov. Ned Lamont’s newly signed Executive Order No. 12.

The order repeals the state’s previous mask mandate, and issues the following guidance and requirements for mask-wearing starting on Wednesday.

Local governments and businesses can still impose their own universal face mask requirements, even with Lamont’s new statewide order in place. New Haven’s indoor mask mandate — even for vaccinated individuals—remains ​“status quo” as city officials look into new state and federal guidance.

Per Lamont’s new order, which can be read in full here:

• Any unvaccinated person while indoors in a public place who does not keep a six foot social distance shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face covering. Fully vaccinated individuals — that is, individuals who are 14 days out from receiving their final recommended vaccine dose — do not have to wear face masks indoors in most settings.

• All people, vaccinated and unvaccinated, must continue to wear face masks when in any taxi, car, livery, ride-sharing or similar service, commercial aircraft, or any means of mass public transit, of while within any airport, bus or train station, enclosed transit stop or waiting area, homeless shelter or correctional facility.

• Any business, nonprofit organization, property owner, healthcare facility or office, or state, regional, or municipal government or agency may require … the universal use of masks or face coverings or require staff to wear masks in settings under their ownership or control, including, but not limited to, healthcare facilities, offices, places of public accommodation, public venues, or public meetings.

Jury Trials Resuming June 1

In a separate email press release Tuesday, Chief Court Administrator Patrick L. Carroll III announced that jury trials in the state will resume starting June 1. See below for the full text of that message.

Fifteen months ago, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the suspension of jury trials. Now, with the virtual elimination of pandemic-related public health restrictions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Governor, the broad availability of COVID-19 vaccinations, the encouraging reduction of statewide COVID positivity rates, enhanced sanitization and ventilation protocols and procedures within our buildings, and the retrofitting of Judicial Branch facilities to provide the highest level of health and safety protection for prospective jurors, employees and other stakeholders, the time has come for us to restore the essential and fundamental component of our system of justice – the right to a trial by jury.

Accordingly, by direction of the Chief Justice, the Judicial Branch will resume summoning jurors to courthouses throughout the state to restart the jury trial process as of June 1, 2021. As we have done since the beginning of the pandemic, we are undertaking this jury resumption initiative in continuing consultation with Connecticut public health officials and in compliance with directives from the Governor.

We remain committed to assuring that all of our facilities are safe places within which to summon jurors and conduct jury trials. With that goal in mind, we have dispatched our personnel to re-inspect all of our buildings and courtrooms where trials will be held to assure that all appropriate protective measures are in place. Chief Clerks and Chief Judicial Marshals are meeting with their respective staff members to assure that safe, efficient and courteous procedures are in place to welcome and screen prospective jurors into our courthouses. Among other precautions we are taking, we will have ample supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for distribution to jurors, litigants, witnesses and others who may request such PPE. Hand sanitization stations will be visible and available throughout our facilities. Protective microphone coverings will be available in each courtroom. Face shields will be available, as needed, for witnesses as they testify to assure that facial expressions may be observed and assessed during testimony. At least in the initial stages of the jury resumption initiative, the plans to hold jurors and conduct jury deliberations in a courtroom adjacent to the courtroom where the trial is being held will remain in place. Naturally, the trial judges will also have the flexibility to order additional measures as the judge deems necessary to address concerns expressed by jurors or litigants during the proceedings.

Through this process, we will take every step necessary to assure jurors, counsel, litigants and staff that their safety remains our primary concern and that we have taken, and will continue to take, all appropriate steps necessary to assure that safety.