One of the country’s largest and busiest court system, in New York, has stopped filing and cases that aren’t essential. The New York court system said it will begin holding virtual hearings all in response to the COVID-19. Judge Lawrence Marks, the New York Chief Administrative Judge ordered county clerks across the state on Sunday to allow only filings that were essential which included criminal, child protection and housing cases that were urgent.
Saying “extraordinary times like these call for extraordinary measures,” Marks and Chief Judge Janet DiFiore also said New York City would start holding criminal and family court proceedings via Skype to reduce courtroom crowding.
in certain locations in Brooklyn or Manhattan
Security officers will limit access to maintain social distancing and arraignments will remain open to the public. There is concern that the window for the CVA Child victims act that started in August 2019 halt new cases and there is a call for action to extend the window for another year.