Understanding the Criminal Justice System
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we keep hearing about “essential workers,” those with jobs that must continue to work while most of Indiana stays at home to slow the spread of the novel Coronavirus. Indiana’s government considers attorneys essential workers, and we are continuing to work for you. While Indiana attorneys can continue to go into the office to work, many criminal defense attorneys are now working remotely whenever possible.
Thanks to technology, online meetings, consultations, and even depositions can keep us safer. Here at Razumich and Associates, we continue to work for you during the COVID-19 crisis. We are happy to arrange a video or telephone consultation for any current or prospective client. Of course, we continue to represent our clients in court zealously.
Marion County courts are now able to hold some criminal proceedings online. On March 23, 2020, Chief Justice of Indiana Loretta Rush granted a petition for emergency relief, allowing “permission for all hearings, including but not limited to: initial hearings, bond reviews, and dispositive hearings, to be conducted remotely using available teleconferencing and/or video conferencing.”
An earlier order from Chief Justice Rush continued all criminal jury trials in Marion Superior and Circuit Courts from March 16, 2020, to May 1, 2020, for trials where the defendant isn’t in custody. A trial “continuance” means that a trial will be delayed and continued at another date. If a defendant is in custody, the courts will continue the trial to May 1, 2020, if the delay will not violate the defendant’s rights. While Chief Justice Rush’s order requires Marion courts to assess whether trials can resume on May 1, 2020, no later than April 13, 2020, it is likely that criminal trials in Indianapolis won’t resume until later in the year.
The Judicial Conference of the United States is also temporarily allowing remote access by video and telephone to federal courts for criminal proceedings.
