Coronavirus disrupts court systems; experts say emergency cases still being addressed

The coronavirus is forcing courts across the country to delay trials and other proceedings but legal experts said the most essential operations are still taking place including giving protection to domestic violence victims.

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"Temporary restraining orders, needs to have children removed from abusive situations,” Bill Raftery with the National Center for State Courts said about legal proceedings that are still being addressed in the wake of the outbreak. “In some cases, bail and arraignment hearings because there's constitutional rights."

There are overall disruptions including restrictions of public access to courthouses and many civil and criminal trials are being put on hold.

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The U.S. Supreme Court postponed arguments for the first time in more than 100 years.

"This is a minute by minute situation,” Raftery said.

Raftery said many court systems already had contingency plans set up in the event of emergency situations like a hurricane or other natural disaster.

He said some are turning to alternative methods like video conferencing or phone conferences.

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Legal experts said the coronavirus outbreak is unprecedented and the full impact on the legal system remains unclear.

"We don't know how that's going to manifest,” Raftery said. “We’re going to see in the next week and it’s going to be questions that are going to be on a case by case basis.”