All 14th Judicial Circuit courts nix in-person proceedings as COVID-19 cases rise
PANAMA CITY — All of the 14th Judicial Circuit courts have cut in-person proceedings upon returning to phase one of their pandemic protocols following the recent rise in COVID-19 cases.
Phase one of the COVID-19 pandemic protocols means that nobody from the general public or attorneys can enter facilities. Everything will be done remotely, but Chief Judge Christopher Patterson in Bay County said he is confident in the judges as they have become proficient in the remote technology.
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“Last week, for example, we started doing out-of-custody criminal cases and letting those folks log into Zoom,” Patterson said of the video streaming platform. “We let them discuss their cases, if they wish to enter a plea we can do that remotely as well.”
Patterson made the decision based on the benchmarks of Chief Justice Charles Canady. There are several benchmarks that the courts have to pass to move on to the next phase.
One of the benchmarks is that a courthouse has to be COVID-19 free for at least 14 days or if there is an outbreak, there must be deep cleaning before anybody is allowed inside. Another benchmark is a 14-day decline in positive cases reported in the county and the percentage of positive cases is less than 10%.
Patterson said he is in discussion with the health department weekly and is a part of the daily emails, but is also trying to make sure the courts close those gaps.
“For example, yesterday (Monday) the numbers in Bay County were remarkably low. Well because the state stopped testing Thursday and Friday of last week,” Patterson said. “So that dip is going to directly impact our downward trajectory, so we’re trying to figure out a way how we can avoid those gaps where it doesn’t impact us.”
The biggest problem for Patterson and the 14th Judicial Circuit Court is that there hasn’t been jury trials for several months and that will continue for the foreseeable future. He said there will be a significant back log of criminal and civil cases and without a date set in stone, the cases won’t be quick to resolve.
“There were cases that were ready to go to trial back in March and April and they continue to be pushed off,” Patterson said. “At this point, we’re not sure what that date will be this year or next, we just don’t know yet.”
Patterson said he will continue to monitor the data from the Florida Department of Health in Bay County. If they meet the meet the benchmarks set by Canady for 14 days, then the courts will move back to phase two.