Officials take COVID-19 safety measures as in-person court sessions resume

Officials have brought some changes to the courtroom to keep everyone safe from COVID-19 as in-person sessions resume.

News 12 Staff

Aug 11, 2020, 8:42 PM

Updated 1,514 days ago

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Officials have brought some changes to the courtroom to keep everyone safe from COVID-19 as in-person sessions resume. 
Judge George Grasso invited News 12 cameras inside the courtroom Tuesday which was equipped with Plexiglas panels and social distancing guidelines. 
Safety measures start upon entering the courthouse with masks, temperature checks and screening questions. 
The courtroom sees an average of 10 cases a day. The supervising judge of the Bronx Criminal Court is allowing attorneys who feel vulnerable to COVID-19 to have another lawyer fill in on their behalf. 
Also, defendants who are concerned can be excused from appearing. 
Since the reopening of the Bronx Criminal Court, Judge Grasso says 177 cases have been heard in-person. Grasso says 36 of those defendants have actually been in the courtroom. 
With grand jury action resuming this week, the judge expects to expand upon these precautions as the case load increases.
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