Facing a backlog of cases since jury trials were suspended in March — and an avalanche of new ones when they resume — the 11th Judicial Circuit is exploring creative alternatives.

On September 8, Civil Administrative Judge Jennifer Bailey issued an order creating the “Judicial Panel Case Resolution Conferences Pilot Program.”

“This is another arrow in our quiver,” Judge Bailey said. “We recognize that with the pandemic, and the loss of the threat of a jury trial date, that lawyers and judges have to be creative to find tools to move cases.”