New York City Courts to Resume Grand Jury Proceedings

Grand juries will resume across all five New York boroughs in August, in the latest move by the state’s courts to reopen a system mostly shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic.

The resumption, announced Tuesday by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks, is part of a phased reopening plan announced in May that began with rural upstate courts.

“As we move forward with our phased-in restoration of in-court operations in the five boroughs, we will continue to work diligently to meet the justice needs of those served by our New York City Courts,” Marks said in a statement. The courts will remain “vigilant in protecting the health of our judges, professional workforce and all those who visit and use our courthouses,” he added.

The Covid-19 pandemic hit New York City early and particularly hard with 214,371 confirmed cases and 18,611 confirmed deaths, according to New York City Department of health data.

Some states have chosen not to resume grand juries during the pandemic based on concerns that the selection process might not result in a jury that represents the entire community.

Courtroom usage in New York will be staggered to maintain social distancing procedures and reduce the spread of infection. Visitors will be required to undergo screening, wear masks, and physically distance themselves.

New York City will also see expanded in-person conferences for felony cases, and select preliminary hearings, plea and sentencing proceedings, arraignments, and bench trials in civil matters.

New York State’s courts have expanded their virtual capacity to keep up with cases since in-person proceeding shut down. New York City’s Criminal Court has “conducted almost 19,000 arraignments, held over 34,000 other criminal proceedings and conducted nearly 600 preliminary hearings in felony matters,” Marks said.

Judges will still use virtual proceedings as much as they can for non-essential matters.