State Courts Feel the Impact of COVID-19
State courts face an array of challenges, only some of which are related to COVID. Budget cuts, ever-growing backlogs, logistical concerns, even constitutional challenges are impacting the legal world in myriad ways. Meanwhile, lawyers, judges, defendants—everyone is looking for ways to get back to some semblance of normalcy. An article in Law.com explains that in Texas, state services are facing untenable budget cuts. As appellate courts plead for funding, they describe the significant and devastating consequences of court delays on families, the unjustly accused, and those in the midst of disputes that require fast adjudication. Certainly, budget cuts are not a new phenomenon. But slashing budgets when state courts are already scrambling seems like adding insult to injury. Texas courts are already under budget due to a ransomware attack on state court computer systems earlier this year. And New York state courts are facing budget cuts and may now actually be forced to lay off senior judges. This shocking move is expected to cause even greater delays in the pursuit of justice. The president of the New York State Bar Association explains that state and federal governments are obligated to find a way to restore the budget to appropriate levels. In Connecticut, state court backlogs are causing confusion, frustration, and even desperation. Simple cases are dragging on for months, and ostensibly simple decisions are left undecided. A Philadelphia judge was removed from her post, reportedly stemming from frustration at the civil dockets not moving forward. Some jurisdictions are taking bold steps to mitigate the impact of COVID, such as trying cases in closed movie theaters and other now-essentially-defunct locales. A recovery in the number of cases filed is happening nationwide. Civil cases are being filed at a rate almost comparable to pre-pandemic levels, while family law case numbers are still low.