On September 28, NYS Chief Judge Janet DiFiore provided this video update to discuss additional progress on the Unified Court System’s jury trial pilots. She noted that overall the pilots have been running smoothly, with only one incident. Chief Judge DiFiore once again expressed her gratitude to those who reported for jury service. She reiterated the need to responsibly follow the best health and safety practices in public courthouses, especially as additional in-person operations continue to be phased in.
As best practices are continually updated in courthouses, the virtual capacity continues to expand. Chief Judge DiFiore discusses the beginnings of hearing virtual bench trials and matrimonial matters using Microsoft Teams and NYSCEF e-filing. These pilot matters will also be monitored closely to develop methods for expansion.
Chief Judge DiFiore then closed with a discussion of the 11th annual Public Hearing on Civil Legal Services in New York, which focused on the needs of low-income New Yorkers and the public health crisis.