The headlines about COVID-19 hospitalizations are bleak, and flowing from them come a stream of court orders pushing off trials. The Iowa Supreme Court has put a hold on all jury trials until February 1, 2021—the latest we’ve seen.

From Iowa, naturally, we move to New Hampshire, where a trial scheduled to begin Thursday was canceled in light of rising infection rates and “limited air circulation” in the courthouse.

Then on to South Carolina, where Charleston saw its first jury trial since February—a one-day criminal trial conducted yesterday. Plexiglass dividers were installed, temperatures were taken and masks were required, including for the judge. But this occurred against the background of criminal defense lawyer Chris Adams telling ABC-4 News in Charleston: “If we’re forcing people into an enclosed room, somebody’s going to get this virus and die.”