DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — The Fourth Judicial Circuit will now permit Zoom appearances in Clay, Duval and Nassau County criminal courts "unless the presiding judge determines that the interests of justice require the proceeding to be conducted in person."
Chief Judge Mark Mahon says attorneys may file a motion requesting a remote hearing and must have it granted by the presiding judge.
The Administrative Order signed by Mahon comes this week after increasing pressure, particularly from the state and local branch of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the criminal justice community.
“Lawyers are getting sick, the public is getting sick, judges are getting sick. That's all the indicators you need to limit people in the building," president of the statewide organization Jude Faccidomo told First Coast News last week.
Faccidomo says virtual court is essential for safety now and will be invaluable in the future – saving taxpayer money, attorneys and judges’ time and giving the general public more access to the court.
The Northeast Florida chapter president Shannon Schott agrees.
“We really want to see virtual court be a consistent feature in the Fourth Circuit, it gives so much more access to court," attorney Schott said. "But, right now, we're just seeing more cases of COVID. There's a safety reason, and we want to make sure that the administration of justice continues seamlessly."