Page 11 - Delaware Lawyer - Summer 2021

one in Sussex. The decision to utilize only six courtrooms was driven by the lack of space more than the cost. In each county, we will have to utilize a second courtroom to safely conduct jury selec- tion and to serve as the jury delibera- tion room for each trial. We have tran- sitioned to Phase 3 of the Reopening Plan and resumed jury trials, but we will be limited in how many trials we can hold each week given the limited num- ber of suitable courtrooms.
As for the workspace issue, we have had to have some employees work re- motely (on a rotation basis) to comply with six-foot social distancing and other COVID safety precautions. Suffice it to say, given the finite space in our court- houses, the ability to work remotely was critical once social distancing was required. It was also critical to keep- ing our employees safe. In the event of
another pandemic, we will be able to pivot quickly to remote operations thanks to our technology, but holding trials will continue to be a challenge when restrictions like social distancing and limitations on group size in indoor gatherings are in place.
Conclusion
There is no question that the ad- ministration of civil and criminal justice was disrupted and slowed by the global pandemic. Trials had to be discontin- ued. Persons who have been accused of crimes and cannot post bail are in custody and awaiting trial. Victims are waiting for closure. Civil litigants who have been waiting to have their claims resolved by a jury will have to wait lon- ger — particularly given the huge back- log of criminal trials.
Despite all of the obstacles, and through it all, our amazing employees
have kept the administration of justice going. As we emerge from the throes of the pandemic, we will not only be focused on addressing this backlog of cases so that people can have their day in court, but also on learning from our experiences over the last 14 months. We owe it to those we serve to learn from the past and to better prepare for the future. We endeavor to do so.
Postscript: As of this writing, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of over 1,600 of our fellow Delaware citizens.
It claimed the life of a member of our Superior Court family. It was and continues to be heartbreaking. Let us remember all of those who lost their lives to this horrible virus, and let us keep their loved ones in our hearts and prayers.
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