Although court leaders in Philadelphia had been planning to begin holding jury trials in the state's busiest jurisdiction starting later this month, the First Judicial District has announced that it is postponing jury trials until at least March.

Orders and notices issued Jan. 15 by Administrative Judge Lisette Shirdan-Harris said jury trials in the Common Pleas civil and criminal sections will not be resumed until March 1. The order announcing that the criminal jury trials will be deferred said the move was being done "in light of the continuing health emergency and in order to safeguard the health and safety of court personnel, court users, prospective jurors and members of the public."