The coronavirus pandemic will have lasting impacts to the U.S. justice system, with widespread delays in criminal court proceedings, family court and immigration, creating a backlog that could last for years.
Trials and hearings face delays under normal circumstances, but under COVID-19 restrictions, all jury trials have been suspended on a state-by-state basis and all immigration hearings have been suspended until at least May 15.
In Florida, Supreme Court Chief Justice Canady created a working group to make recommendations about how and when court operations can resume.
However, under his most recent administrative order, jury trials won’t resume until at least July. Canady also ordered other hearings and court business to be conducted