For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 3 - 14
EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY IN
VIRTUAL COURTROOMS
Sara Jacobson
W
ith coronavirus still relatively low across
Pennsylvania, for now, courts across the
Commonwealth are beginning to reopen. As
courts reopen, counties struggle with all the health and
safety issues attendant to bringing people together in
the same physical space. In late July, New Jersey court
administration released its plan to reopen courts, the
state and to resume jury trials, declaring, "(w)aiting is
not an option."1
positive for COVID-19, forcing additional postponement
of cases.2 Conversely, a circuit court in Miami, where
the virus is surging, pulled off its first in-person jury
trial in that same time period.3 Potential jurors were
questioned at home during an online voir dire, and
ultimately 8 jurors sat to hear the civil case in a socially
distanced courtroom, where everyone wore masks.4
That trial and its voir dire can be viewed on the Court's
YouTube channel.5
Courtrooms across the country are struggling with
whether it is safe to reopen at all. Courts in Louisville,
Kentucky were partially open, holding in-person court
only when deemed necessary, and even then, only
operating at 33% of courtroom capacity. In July, six
Louisiana judges and two members of their staff tested
Pennsylvania is not immune to this struggle. In
June, Allegheny County courts reopened. By midJuly, an Allegheny County Assistant District Attorney
contracted coronavirus and ended up in intensive
care.6 Before being hospitalized, he filed a complaint
with Occupational Safety and Health Administration
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 3
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 3
Contents
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 3 - 1
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 3 - 2
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 3 - Contents
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 3 - 4
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 3 - 5
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