Hyannis Resort Considered As Site For Barnstable County Courtroom

HYANNIS, MA — The Cape Codder Resort and Spa features a Hearth 'n Kettle restaurant, a water park and banquet halls for weddings and more. And soon, the resort might have a makeshift courtroom for Barnstable County too.

The state trial court took a tour of the resort Monday to determine its potential to host social distanced jury trials, as courtrooms face massive backlogs of cases amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Cape Cod Times reported. If approved, the resort could serve as a jury pool assembly hall or as a place to conduct six-person or 12-person jury trials, Jennifer Donahue, a court spokesperson told the newspaper. The case backlog has created serious issues, some of which resulted in people being held in jail for longer periods of time while awaiting trial.

“We need to address the backlog," Falmouth-based defense attorney Drew Segadelli told the Cape Cod Times. "People's rights are being infringed on because of COVID."

For more on this story, read the Cape Cod Times.