New York Courts Halt Many Filings, Launch Skype Hearings

The New York court system, one of the country’s largest and busiest, has stopped accepting non-essential filings and said it will begin holding virtual hearings in response to the coronavirus crisis.

New York Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks on Sunday ordered county clerks across the state only to allow filings in matters deemed essential, including criminal, child-protection and very urgent housing cases.

Saying “extraordinary times like these call for extraordinary measures,” Marks and Chief Judge Janet DiFiore also said New York City would start holding criminal and family court proceedings via Skype to reduce courtroom crowding.

Criminal defendants who haven’t ...