A civil case is on track to become the county's first jury trial after they were halted in March 2020 over coronavirus concerns.

Common Pleas Judge S. Michael Yeager held jury selection Thursday for a civil case between Kevin Porter, the plaintiff, and Hartford Insurance over a vehicle accident involving Porter that occurred in 2015.

Jury selection typically is held in the Butler County Government Center, but Yeager held it at the Vagabond Center in Lyndora. His office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on why the selection was held at the Vagabond Center, and court administrators declined to comment.

The trial is scheduled to begin April 12 and last through April 16.

In March 2020, the state and county postponed jury trials along with most court proceedings in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus.

Since then, many elements of the justice system have resumed, but holding a jury trial remains a challenge.

In November, the county canceled an attempt to summon people for jury duty for a criminal case due to virus-related issues and concerns. If Yeager's attempt to hold a jury trial is successful, it will be the first one to take place since shutting down.

On the criminal side of the court, Judge Timothy McCune is scheduled on May 24 to pick a jury for an unspecified upcoming case, according to District Attorney Richard Goldinger.

Unlike the civil side, a number of criminal cases will be up for picking jurors from the expected pool of Butler County residents. With trials put on hold for more than a year, Goldinger expects several high priority cases might be chosen if enough jurors can be gathered.