The COVID-19 pandemic has affected virtually every facet of state government, and Texas’ criminal courts are no exception.In an average pre-pandemic week, 186 criminal jury trials would be held across Texas. That figure dropped to an average of 4 per week in 2020, despite many courts using virtual hearings and socially distanced proceedings. The latest surge has continued to cancel jury trials in some jurisdictions.The tens of thousands of unheard cases resulted in a historic backlog so severe that it could take up to five years to return to pre-pandemic case levels — undermining the fundamental American right to a ...