In-Person Court Proceedings Halted in NY Southern District

In-Person Court Proceedings Suspended Again in NY’s Southern District

By Lindsay Tuchman New York City

PUBLISHED 11:38 PM ET Dec. 01, 2020 PUBLISHED December 1, 2020 @11:38 PM

NEW YORK — All federal courts in New York’s southern district on Tuesday began suspending in-person proceedings for the second time this year.

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The southern district covers federal cases in Manhattan and the Bronx, as well as several New York state counties north of the city.

Chief Judge Colleen McMahon announced the suspension Tuesday, saying the court was doing so to preserve public health and safety amid a spike in coronavirus cases.

With this order, previously scheduled jury trials will be adjourned to a later date, and civil proceedings, such as arraignments, pleas and sentencing, will be done online.

The clerk’s two offices — one in Foley Square and one in White Plains — will remain open.

The decision by the southern district comes two weeks after New York state courts also reigned back in-person trials.

Dennis Quirk, the head of the court officers’ union, said it was a necessary decision as COVID-19 cases have been detected in various buildings.

“Now that COVID is on the rise again, why are we delaying putting into effect some very good safety measures? The courthouses are not being cleaned properly. They're not using alcohol to clean the bases. They're not cleaning touch points. They're not cleaning bathrooms. So there is not proper cleaning,” said Quirk. “Our people are not getting N95 masks, the union has been supplying masks to people and it’s a very unsafe condition.”

The southern district will allow emergency filings for people who are awaiting trial or require an in-person proceeding.

The pause is scheduled to be lifted on January 15.

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