Call it a “soft opening” in the words of chief Administrative Judge Glenn Grant. Almost all hearings that have gone on since March have been online, and they were few and far between. Many have been held up for one reason or another. Now, a limited number of judges and staff will handle some proceedings in court.
“As we open up our courthouses to this degree we now are able to handle some of those things where the parties consent was not authorized and where the need for an in-person event would be required,” Grant told KYW Newsradio.
Trials that were interrupted will go first, along with pending sentencings and guilty pleas.
With over 1,600 cases awaiting grand jury decisions on possible indictments, Grant says it’ll take some time to address the backlog.
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One other thing. Expect most municipal court hearings to be handled online, although proceedings involving serious charges like DWI will still be held in person.
“But the vast majority, whether it’s a speeding ticket or a parking ticket, those things we really should be promoting a way of doing this remotely and we have,” Grant added, “and I think that’s really going to be institutionalized for the foreseeable future.”
At least until there’s a proven vaccine against COVID-19.