Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that Grand Jury selection resumed earlier this week after receiving approval from Administrative Judge, 8th Judicial District, Hon. Paula Feroleto. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office will begin presenting criminal cases to the Grand Jury today.

This is the second time that Grand Jury in Erie County has recommenced after the Office of Court Administration ordered that non-essential, in-person court procedures be postponed due to the increase in COVID-19 positive cases in New York State.

The Erie County DA’s Office has conducted a review of all pending unindicted felony cases and identified priority cases to be presented to the recently empaneled Grand Jury. Prosecutors have been proactively managing their caseloads in the effort to avoid a backlog of pending felony cases.

It is the policy of the Office of Court Administration that anyone who enters the Erie County Court building must wear a mask at all times. All court staff and visitors must undergo a temperature check and verbal screening to enter the building. Anyone who has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher and/or fails the verbal screening will not be permitted to enter the courthouse. Per the Governor’s Executive Order, individuals who have traveled outside of New York State will not be permitted to enter the building until after self-quarantining for a period of ten days. Every courtroom, including the Grand Jury, has reduced seating capacity to safely comply with social distancing requirements.