The first trial to take place in Thurston County’s off-site courtroom is that of Tim Eyman.

Eyman — a conservative activist well-known for filing anti-tax initiatives — was accused by the state of violating campaign finance law and soliciting kickbacks. His non-jury trial started in Thurston County Nov. 16.  However, it was halted after the family member of an attorney’s staffer came down with some COVID-like symptoms. The trial resumed Monday, in the new venue. Tuesday was the trial’s fifth day.

In the courtroom itself, the proceedings unfolded normally, but with some exceptions. Mainly, there was an emphasis on putting large amounts of distance between everyone.

The large, well-lit room with plain white walls was filled with black plastic folding chairs, equally distanced apart by several feet. A witness booth sat near the judge — but still with several feet of distance — and a transparent plexiglass barrier hung from the ceiling to form a barrier around the witness. Signs hung everywhere, ordering everyone to wear a mask and maintain 6 feet of distance.

Judge James Dixon sat behind a desk on a slightly raised platform, while a clerk and a court reporter sat at desks with several feet of distance between them. As the hearing wasn’t a jury trial, no space in the room was taken up by jurors. Two long tables were set up on different sides of the room — one with attorneys representing Washington State, and the other by Eyman and his attorneys.

Eyman’s attorney Richard Sanders stood and approached a podium, where he addressed the judge. When it was the state’s turn to speak, one of their attorneys simple stood and spoke from his table.  Voices not amplified by microphones could be easily heard in the back of the room.