The Appeal: New York City Public Defenders Oppose Resuming In-Person Court Appearances

“Resuming in-person court appearances won’t accomplish much, New York City public defenders argue. Critical deadlines for criminal cases remain suspended. And while the logistics around virtual court at times can be frustrating, the resumption of non-essential, in-person appearances at this stage does little more than endanger communities, said Ann Mathews, managing director of the criminal defense practice at the Bronx Defenders. “It’s a way of providing the appearance of process while achieving nothing that could not be accomplished virtually, all at such great risk to so many people involved in different aspects of the system and in the community.”

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