Weekly COVID-19 Report for Prosecutors and Courts, September 2, 2020

September 2, 2020 - Bulletin No. 16

Prosecutors' offices and court systems across the nation are being impacted by COVID-19. Their daily work to maintain constitutional justice is being uprooted, altered, and halted. CNA and NDAA have partnered to actively develop and disseminate useful COVID-19 response resources to prosecutors and courts to support them during this trying time. This weekly bulletin shares helpful information and resources, as well as upcoming virtual networking events.

Registration Now Open!

Virtual Discussion: Mental Wellness of Prosecutors and Court Staff

Please join us for a virtual discussion on Thursday, September 17, 2020 from 2:00-3:00 PM EDT focusing on:

How aspects, such as the returning to the office, expected workload pressure, and the current perception of the criminal justice system are affecting the mental wellness of court staff.
What steps three offices are taking to address these problems.

Learn More and Register

Proactive Prosecution: Protecting the Record and Overcoming Pre-Trial Issues During COVID-19

Please join us for a webinar, in partnership with AEquitas, on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 from 2:00-3:30 PM EDT on:

Proactively identifying legal issues arising from pandemic-related delays.
Responding to motions raised in context of COVID-19 accommodations.
Establishing a detailed record on impact of pandemic and due diligence measures taken in response.

Learn More and Register

Useful Resources

Cook County E-Court: Evaluating the Circuit Court's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Looking Toward the Future

Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers developed a report which features best practices, legal research, and results from an anonymous survey. This report aims to help the Circuit Court of Cook County navigate pandemic-related justice challenges.

View the full report here.

Criminal Jury Trials During COVID-19: Prosecution Leadership for a New Era

On Wednesday, August 19, 2020, we partnered with AEquitas to bring you a webinar about criminal jury trials, featuring information on: constitutional considerations, juror questionnaires, adapting to virtual platforms, and more. The recording can be accessed below.

View the recording here.

Court News & Innovative Responses

Spokane, Washington

While still awaiting final approval from the state Supreme Court, Spokane county is planning to use their local fairgrounds as a venue for jury trials. For more information, click here.

Jacksonville, Florida

The Florida 4th Circuit Court held the state's first civil jury trial since the pandemic began. The proceedings were streamed from voir dire through the conclusion of the case. For more information, click here and to view the proceedings click here.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

The foreclosure prevention program run by the county’s court system resumed operations virtually. For more information, click here.

From NDAA

If you have a concern not addressed above or would like to expand upon your response, please use this link to do so.

We want to hear from you! If you would like to submit questions or have other concerns, please email us at covid19_courts@cna.org.

COVID-19-related news articles and resources, and past bulletins will be posted on the NDAA website. Continue to check the website for updated information.

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