Judges, court staff, IT, jurors and more commended by Chief Justice Roberts for their work and sacrifices during the pandemic

In his 2020 year report to the Federal Judiciary, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. thanked Judges, court staff, IT, jurors and others involved in the court system for work sacrifices during the pandemic.

Below are excerpts from his report.

"For the past  ten months, it has been all hands on deck  for the courts, as our branch of government  confronted the COVID19 pandemic."

"In March, the Supreme Court asked employees to work remotely.  We moved the weight of our attorney  filings and opinion announcements online.  And in May we  held oral argument by teleconference for  the first time.  Although we  look  forward to returning to normal sittings in our Courtroom, we have been able to stay current in our work. "

"Other appellate courts around the country have responded with similar considered flexibility. "

"But once again the greatest challenge was faced by the “first to fight”  in the  judicial family—the trial courts and their  staffs. Trial courts deal most  directly with  people—lawyers, of course, but also litigants, witnesses, jurors, court reporters, probation and pretrial services officers, interpreters, security personnel, and members  of the public  who have important rights of access to proceedings. "

"Trial judges have obligations under  the Constitution and other laws to deal promptly with cases, especially with respect to  criminal filings. "

 "And they have had to work  out how to carry on their vital functions consistent  with the best available public health guidance. To this end, judges  who serve on the  Judicial Conference of the  United States and its committees—in particular, the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure—sprang into action to make possible video and audio conferencing in certain criminal proceedings, with help from Congress through authorization in the CARES Act."

"By  April, judges around the country were guiding critical court functions from  their home offices—or their kitchen tables. Hearings of all sorts went virtual.  Judges quickly (or at least eventually) learned to use a wide range of available  audio and video conferencing tools. "

"But this effort required more than just new technology.  Judges needed to adopt innovative approaches to  conduct court proceedings. "

"In bankruptcy  court, for example, a complex case can involve 100 participating attorneys.  Judges worked  with court staff  to admit participants to virtual  hearings, manage the orderly flow of work, and ensure that public  access did not endanger  public  health.  They needed to consider new approaches to filing documents  and maintaining information security."

"Much of this work  is  not  glamorous, but  it is essential, and it got done. Proceedings involving detained defendants present special challenges. " 

"Judges, lawyers, and criminal  defendants must  interact  through initial appearances, detention hearings, arraignments,  and sentencings."

"The  courts have responded to  the threat  of COVID by developing new partnerships with law enforcement, corrections officers, and counsel to ensure that defendants  have virtual  access to courts and their lawyers."

"Courts  have used every available avenue to prepare for resumption of  jury trials, the bedrock of fairness in our  system  of justice.  Judges and court staff have reconfigured spaces in courtrooms  around the  country. "

"Many courts have repurposed their largest courtrooms for physical  distancing and reconfigured  jury  boxes to extend into  public gallery areas.  Courts have installed plexiglass in key spaces to physically separate participants and have deployed highefficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to minimize the risk of virus transmission.  Contact tracing plans are in  place.   Proceedings  for grand juries  and jury voir dire, which usually entail significantly larger gatherings than the standard 12-person jury  in a federal trial, are likewise being modified for  safety. "

"All this is a credit to  judges and court staff, but also to  the citizens  who serve as jurors. Judges  from around the  country report that, where jury  trials have resumed, responses to jury summonses have  met  or  exceeded their high hopes for the public’s willingness to participate in the legal system  during these very challenging times."

"None of this  would be achievable without unsung heroes in the  judicial  branch and throughout government.   Our information technology professionals have made possible remote work that has allowed judges to perform their duties safely.  Our facilities teams, our deputy marshals and court security officers, and the building staff employed by or contracted through the  General  Services Administration have helped ensure that  our courts could meet the unusual challenges  of this past  year ."

"In focusing on the  dedicated work  in courts, I do not  want  to minimize  the hardships and suf- fering caused  by the  pandemic.  Like others throughout the country, judiciary employees have contended with illness and loss.  My thoughts are with them. This year, more than  ever,  I am  privileged and honored  to thank all  of the judges, court staff, and other judicial branch personnel throughout the Nation for their outstanding service.