Federal courts shuttered by coronavirus can hold hearings by video and teleconference in criminal cases

Washington Post (democracy dies with democrats) ^ | 3/31/20 | Ann E. Marimow

[Libloather]

With courtrooms shuttered for most in-person hearings, the federal judiciary is for the first time broadly allowing certain criminal proceedings to take place by video and teleconference, a sea change for technology-resistant trial courts throughout the country.

The shift in policy announced Tuesday is intended to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus by allowing judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and defendants to work and appear remotely. It is unclear whether it will lead to lasting changes in how the federal judiciary operates, and some are concerned that the video and teleconferences could cut off media and public access to what should be open proceedings.

Leaders of the Judicial Conference - the governing body of the federal courts - on Sunday officially approved a temporary exception to long-standing rules prohibiting cameras in the courtroom in response to provisions tucked into the federal stimulus legislation signed by President Trump last week. But there is no guarantee in the law that the public will be able to watch or listen when defendants enter plea agreements or are sentenced to prison in hearings held remotely.

[Regulator]

So Western Civilization can be taken down by a really nasty flu.

Didn’t fall when it was attacked by the Kaiser or the Fuhrer and his buddy the Imperial Emperor and class clown Il Duce.

Even Ho Chi Minh and Mousy Dung couldn’t do it.

But the snowflake generation is ready to give it all up for threat of...a parasite.

Who knew.

[Retain Mike]

This should have been standard procedure decades ago. Instead of patrolling the county, sheriff deputies in our county spend huge amounts of time transporting inmates to and from the jail for court appearances.