Read on Twitter
Here we see the mayor again, for at least the second time this week, making ignorant, nonsensical remarks about the criminal justice system in NYC. 1/ https://twitter.com/gloriapazmino/status/1281602191657230336
The courts have been operating remotely. It’s true there haven’t been trials for months. It’s true there have not been grand juries. But this has meant that people charged with violent crimes have simply LANGUISHED IN JAIL. They have not been free. 2/
The situation has been a disaster— for the rights of the accused. It has NOT contributed to any kind of crime wave. I can’t even understand the argument being made by the mayor here. As the saying goes, it’s so nonsensical, it’s not even wrong. 3/
The mayor’s remarks appear to be having real consequences for public safety. The Office of Court Administration has for months been behaving as if there was no rush to open he courts to in-person appearances. They have promised to listen to the experts. 4/
The defense bar has hired an expert and in response OCA hired one as well. OCA led us to believe that once the experts released their conclusions there would be a conversation about how to safely open the courts. 5/
But now in the wake of these comments OCA has abruptly changed course and announced in-person appearances to begin within a week! And the safety precautions? They aren’t waiting for the experts and so far they haven’t disclosed how hey intend to protect the public. 6/
We were told OCA would keep these in-person appearances to 1st floor courtrooms with high ceilings. Yet in Manhattan, we just learned that next week’s appearances are to happen on the fourth floor at 100 Centre Street. What are they doing about elevator usage? NO ONE KNOWS. 7/
These appearances are not going to advance cases to trial in any meaningful way. Anything accomplished in these court dates could be done remotely. It is all a show, apparently to demonstrate the courts can get back to work. 8/
Please care about this! When the pandemic began, the courts were too slow to adjust to the reality of the threat of COVID and it is no exaggeration to say that people died as a result. 9/
Now they are casting aside best practices again, it appears in response to nonsensical pressure from the mayor. They are endangering the criminal defendants, the judges, the lawyers, the court officers, and EVERYONE ELSE IN NYC. Thanks for reading. 10/the end.
