News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Courts across the state are preparing to slowly resume normal operations.
District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway said the influx of new cases will be a challenge for local officials.
“For the last couple of months grand juries have not met in our district,” Dunaway said. “They resumed meeting last week, so that will begin the flow of new cases into the criminal courts, and that’s going to be a challenge just to manage the number of people in the next few months.”
Dunaway said the courts were already struggling to keep up with cases before the COVID pandemic limited the cases that could be heard. During that time, the courts have been hearing cases of people already in custody, but all jury trials were continued.
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order Wednesday easing restrictions imposed by previous court orders. These changes include allowing jury trials to resume after July 3 with strict social distancing protocols, eviction cases to begin after June 1, and encourages the continued use of remote proceedings by video or audio conference.
“We’re not back to normal by any means,” Dunaway said. “The Supreme Court is loosening some of the guidelines, but still keeping precautions in place. That allows us in the criminal courts to address all cases to include cases to people that are in custody and those who are not in custody. That’s allowing us to expand what we’re able to do.”
Dunaway said courts are trying to work with the attorneys to keep cases moving. He said a meeting was scheduled for Thursday to prioritize criminal cases.
“There’s challenges in all the courts as for as docketing cases that need to be addressed,” Dunaway said. “We’re also meeting with judges (Thursday) to make a priority list for cases that need to be tried once that restriction is lifted.”
Although Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins said the order to slowly resume normal operations was to allow a “new normal” to be established, Dunaway said that has not become apparent yet.
“It’s too early to know what the new normal will look like,” Dunaway said. “We’re all looking very forward to getting back to a normal course of business. I think people deserve that.”
Dunaway said he would advise people with cases in criminal court to stay in contact with their attorneys for any updates on their case.
