Necessity is the mother of invention.
State courts need to start trying cases again. Public hospitals are doing no elective surgeries and thus have empty ORs. ORs require total disinfection to remain clean. Meanwhile Marlin's park is a big, empty venue blocks from the Courthouse.
Covid doesn't spread outdoors especially when people are more than six feet apart and wear masks. Thus the court orders issued TODAY directing that two county court judges set up courtrooms in JMH ORs 12 and 13 starting the week of April 12, 2021. Court reporting equipment will be disinfected and installed before then, along with steel hospital tables for all parties while all participants including the judge will wear green hospital scrubs and masks.
Meanwhile felony courts will be operating in left field, right field and between the pitcher's mound and home plate at Marlin's park. Three simultaneous trials, outside, with venires sitting- of course- in the stands, until the members are picked, while in-custody defendants will be held in the bull-pen naturally.
No word on whether hot dogs, peanuts and beer will be served, but we say WHY NOT? It is spring time. The sun is shinning. The grass is freshly cut, and where better for a judge to work then where umpires roam?
Everyone wanted trials, and now as we start April, they are right around the corner. We used to say "see you in court" and now we will say "see you in right field where Hammerin Hank used to be on patrol. Lets hit one out and to paraphrase the great Hall of Fame Cub Ernie Banks- "let's try two!"
7 comments:
Does Brooks Brothers sell cleats?
Judges just call balls and strikes right? So time to put them where they belong. In a mask. Over home plate. Calling balls and strikes.
One of your better April 1 posts. Well done.
If court would be held at marlins stadium, you'd see bigger crowds than for a marlins game.
The Captain Reports:
COVID-19 ADVISORY #78
SELF-MONITORING NOTICE
An individual who worked in the locations and dates listed below has tested positive for COVID-19.
Persons identified as having been in close proximity to the confirmed individual are being notified and will be asked to take all necessary precautions.
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Ave.:
Room 142
14th Floor Clerk’s Office Front Counter Area
Last date worked: March 29, 2021
Persons who were in this location recently should follow self-monitoring steps for the next 14 days as outlined in the Centers for Disease Control website at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html
Dear Captain:
It's been a year of this - we get it.
If you feel compelled to tell us something about COVID in the context of our local community, maybe provide information on vaccination sites, where and how available, etc. Everyone over 40 is eligible, and by Monday, everyone old enough to be working in the Court system will be eligible.
I'm guessing that a fair number of us are already vaccinated (I am). Let's finish up with vaccines for those willing and turn the page.
Don't forget about bench trials at the glory hole on the 9th floor, F3 calendar calls at Popeyes and multi-defendant trials at the ghost-towned Mall of the Americas
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